Overview
- An appeals officer affirmed Metcalf’s two-game suspension for initiating a physical confrontation with a front-row fan, ending his regular season and barring him from team facilities.
- Metcalf will forfeit $555,556 in salary, and multiple outlets report the discipline triggers the voiding of roughly $45 million in future guarantees in his contract.
- The NFL says the fan side of the incident remains under review and is following up with the Lions on their guest code of conduct after details surfaced in the appeal hearing.
- The fan, identified as Ryan Kennedy, denies using racial or misogynistic slurs and has scheduled a Friday press conference with his attorneys, citing harassment since being named.
- Coach Mike Tomlin voiced support without condoning the act, Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward called for stronger standards for fan behavior, and Heyward questioned rules that ban suspended players from facilities.