Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu successfully appealed his one-game suspension for a third hip-drop-tackle violation, getting the punishment reduced on Tuesday to a $100,000 fine.
The NFL handed out the one-game ban on Monday in response to a tackle Sunday night. However, Luvu convinced hearing officer Derrick Brooks, appointed in tandem by the league and the players’ union, to allow him to be eligible to play this week against the visiting Detroit Lions.
The tackle in question happened midway through the first quarter of Washington’s 38-14 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, when Luvu pulled down Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the open field as three other defenders converged.
Defined in Rule 12, Section 2, Article 18 (a)(b) of the NFL rulebook: “It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with one or both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and/or trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”
Luvu previously received fines for hip-drop tackles in Weeks 4 and 8.
Luvu, a 29-year-old eight-year pro, ranks third on the Commanders with 50 tackles this season. He also has one forced fumble, two passes defensed and two sacks.
