Tre'Von Moehrig suspension: Ruling emerges on appeal over low blow to Jauan Jennings

Carolina Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig’s appeal of his one-game suspension for hitting San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings beneath the belt has been denied, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He will miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The suspension is a costly one, as he’ll be losing out on his game check. He won’t be paid $65,000, an eighteenth of his base salary, as a result.

After the game was over, Jennings singled Moehrig out during postgame handshakes. He struck the Panthers defender and the two had to be separated. Jennings did not receive any punishment by the NFL and after the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan praised Jennings for standing up for himself, calling the move a “cheap shot” by Moehrig.

Jennings said at his locker after the game that all he was doing was responding to “childish behavior. While Moehrig said that Jennings had been talking trash all game long and even pushed him in the back. Whatever it was, it came to a head in the final moments of the 49ers win.

Jennings finished the game with five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown during the winning effort. Meanwhile, Moehrig was the second-leading tackler for Carolina during the matchup. He ended the game with four solo tackles (eight total) to go along with one tackle for loss.

A statement was released by the NFL explaining their decision to initially suspend the Panthers defensive back. Citing Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, it states that ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’ including, among others, ‘throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent.’

“Moehrig will be eligible to return to the Panthers’ active roster on Monday, Dec. 1 following the team’s Nov. 30 game against Angeles Rams,” the statement read, in part. “Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Moehrig may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided upon by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.”

The 49ers would eventually defeat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night. The victory improves San Francisco to 8-4 on the year. Carolina drops down to .500 at 6-6 overall. San Francisco will move forward to face the Cleveland Browns on the road during Week 13. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers will host the Los Angeles Rams this weekend.