FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-48                     9/30/98

CARRIER SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME FOR MISUSE OF HELMET

Detroit Lions defensive back Mark Carrier was notified today that he has been suspended for one game for unnecessarily striking an opposing receiver with his helmet in Monday night’s Lions-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, the NFL announced today.

The suspension was issued by NFL Director of Football Development Gene Washington following Carrier’s misuse of his helmet against Tampa Bay wide receiver Brice Hunter in the second quarter of Monday night’s game.

It was the third time in the past two years, and the fifth time in the past seven years, that Carrier has been cited by the NFL for improperly hitting with his helmet.

"…using any part of a player’s helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/hairline parts) or facemask to violently and unnecessarily butt, spear or ram an opponent; although such violent and unnecessary use of the helmet and facemask is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protecting those players who are in virtually defenseless postures (e.g., a player in the act of or just after throwing a pass, a receiver catching or attempting to catch a pass…)."

George Young, the NFL’s senior vice president of football operations, said the NFL Competition Committee has placed a high priority on enforcing these rules both in its reports to the clubs and in its discussions with representatives of the Players Association on playing rules matters.

"This is exactly the type of helmet hit that our Competition Committee has stressed as being unnecessary, dangerous, and something we do not want in the game," Young said. "It is a tackling technique that poses a significant injury risk both to the player and his opponent."

Last season with Detroit, Carrier was fined once for impermissible use of his helmet and later warned about another hit in the same game. He was fined $7,500 for a hit against Green Bay on September 28, 1997. After the fine was issued, Gene Washington was made aware of another improper helmet hit by Carrier in the same game and notified Carrier in writing that another infraction of this type during the 1997 season would result in significant disciplinary action, including possible suspension.