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The NFL suspended two Buffalo Bills defenders for spitting at opponents in the same game, with one refusing to accept it.
The league banned special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. for one game without pay, making him the second Buffalo player punished for spitting during the same Week 6 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN. The NFL issued that ruling Wednesday, though officials had thrown no flag on the play that drew it, WIVB reported.
Franklin challenged the decision within hours, with a hearing set for Thursday, according to the AP. He also posted a slowed-down clip of the point-after to Instagram under the hashtag "#notthemcnuggets," writing that he would always defend himself, ESPN reported. "Still won't spit on anyone," Franklin wrote.
Any appeal goes before Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash — officers the league and the players' union appoint and compensate together.
Gardner-Johnson took a different route after the league suspended him Monday, the AP reported. Referees had tossed the safety near the end of the first half for spitting toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum, according to Field Level Media. He apologized to his teammates and accepted the punishment.
Coach Joe Brady called that act "inexcusable" and said he spoke with the player privately, according to the AP.
The league grounded both bans in its sportsmanship rule, with each costing the player a game and a paycheck, according to ESPN.
Both defenders will miss Buffalo's home game against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 1, WIVB reported.