FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-48                    10/2/98

CARRIER SUSPENSION UPHELD

Following a one-hour hearing today, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue denied MARK CARRIER’s appeal of his one-game suspension for unnecessarily striking an opposing receiver with his helmet in last Monday night’s Detroit Lions-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.

Carrier, a Lions defensive back, is thus suspended without pay for Detroit’s game Sunday at the Chicago Bears.

Commissioner Tagliabue upheld the suspension of Carrier that was issued Wednesday by NFL Director of Football Operations Gene Washington. It was the third time in the past two seasons, and fifth time in the past seven seasons, that Carrier has been cited by the NFL for improperly hitting with his helmet.

In a letter to Carrier explaining his decision, Commissioner Tagliabue wrote: "I conclude that both the repeat character of your violations from the 1992 season to the present and the risk of injury to you and opposing players presented by tackling or hitting techniques of this type support a one-game suspension."