Rams star Aaron Donald’s helmet-swinging melee outrages fans, but he could skirt punishment
NFL media and fans are pushing for Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald to be punished for his helmet-swinging melee at Thursday’s joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati, but the league will reportedly defer to his club in the matter.
Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year considered to be among the league’s strongest players, was seen swinging a Bengals player’s helmet during a massive brawl on Thursday.
‘Aaron Donald is the one using a helmet as a weapon in this video,’ wrote one fan on Twitter. ‘How many games will the best defensive player in the NFL be suspended for?’
The answer, surprisingly, could be: zero.
Several NFL insiders, including CBS’ Josina Anderson and the Washington Post’s Mark Maske, are reporting that the team will be handling discipline and not the league.
‘Club handles, so the league does not get involved,’ one source told Anderson. ‘Always been that way.’
NFL media and fans are pushing for Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald (pictured) to be punished for his helmet-swinging melee at Thursday’s joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati, but the league will reportedly defer to his club in the matter. Thursday’s incident was not a first for Donald, who swung his helmet in anger after being ejected from a 2016 game against the San Francisco 49ers (right), although he didn’t make contact with anyone
Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year considered to be among the league’s strongest players, was seen swinging a Bengals player’s helmet during a massive brawl
Many NFL fans argued that Aaron Donald should be suspended for Thursday’s incident
Several NFL insiders, including CBS’ Josina Anderson and the Washington Post’s Mark Maske, are reporting that the team will be handling discipline and not the league
An NFL spokesman did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for clarification. It remains unclear if and why the league would be prevented from punishing Donald in this case.
Many fans were looking for a punishment in line with the six-game suspension Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett got in 2019 for swinging Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s own helmet at him during a skirmish. Garrett has since claimed that Rudolph called him the n-word, prompting the attack, although the Steelers quarterback denies that claim.
‘The NFL has reviewed the footage from the Aaron Donald incident and after careful consideration has decided to drug test Myles Garrett,’ joked on fan.
‘Aaron Donald does this in a game, he gets suspended,’ noted Buffalo sports radio host Joe DiBiase. ‘Aaron Donald does this on his own time in public, he gets suspended via the personal conduct policy.
‘Why would the practice field be the only place on earth where he doesnt (sic) get suspended?’
Others were quick to show other instances of the 6-foot-1, 284-pound defensive tackle swinging helmets or grabbing opponents by the neck.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) swings at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) with Rudolph’s own helmet with 0:08 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019. Garrett was ultimately suspended six games over the incident
Garrett (pictured) has since claimed that Rudolph called him the n-word, prompting the attack, although the Steelers quarterback denies that claim
One fan joked that Myles Garrett has been suspended after the NFL reviewed the Donald tape
Many in the media, including Warren Sharp, argued that Donald should be suspended
Many more are hoping to see Donald arrested.
‘He should probably be charged with assault,’ one fan wrote.
‘Aaron Donald deserves a permanent ban for aggravated assault (This should include loss of HOF eligibility as well),’ another tweeted. ‘The NFL isn’t a place for people like him.’
It’s hard to say exactly what instigated the fight since the footage was recorded from the far sideline, but Donald was hardly the only participant.
Things first got heated in the middle of the second day of joint practices between the two teams in Cincinnati. Bengals left tackle La’el Collins was seen scuffling with Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd and ripping off his helmet, which he then swung at the Los Angeles defender.
Collins was briefly removed from the field, but quickly returned and the larger brawl ensued shortly thereafter.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor did not seem overly concerned about the fighting, dismissing it as the product of a competitive practice.
‘Emotions run high,’ Taylor told reporters. ‘We’ve been working together for two days now, and that’s just some real competitive guys getting into it.’
The Bengals and Rams, who played in the Super Bowl last February, will square off in their last preseason game on Saturday night in Cincinnati.
