Dominic Raiola Suspended 1 Game: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola stirred controversy when he stepped on the leg of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson in Week 16. The NFL decided Monday that Raiola will receive a one-game suspension for his conduct. His suspension was upheld following an appeal.

Continue for updates.

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Raiola Suspension Upheld

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 provides an update on Raiola's appeal:

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Raiola Suspended for Week 17 vs. Green Bay

Monday, Dec. 22

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the news, and ESPN's Adam Caplan provided additional details:

An official release from the league further specified the Week 16 incident and supplied context to Raiola's discipline-heavy background:

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In the third quarter of Sunday's game, Raiola stomped on the leg of Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson at the conclusion of a play, violating Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12 (b) of the NFL Rule Book prohibiting "kicking or kneeing an opponent." Raiola has been previously disciplined five times since 2010, including once earlier this season, for safety-related rules violations.

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The league considered a two-game suspension according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports:

Brandon Marshall, who is on IR and didn't play in Sunday's game, had a rather passionate statement regarding Raiola via the ESPN Sportscenter account:

Marshall took it a step further and called out the Lions star on Twitter:

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post weighed in on Raiola's punishment:

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Dominic Raiola got off easy. The guy is incorrigible and deserves a one-year ban, not one game.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) December 22, 2014"

The Lions struggled on offense against the woeful Bears defense in Week 16, and losing their starting center is a most untimely issue to be having. Week 17's matchup with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field has massive playoff implications and is for the NFC North division title.

Next up on Detroit's depth chart is Travis Swanson, a rookie third-round draft choice out of Arkansas. Swanson seems as capable of a fill-in option for the 35-year-old veteran Raiola as any, but he will have to make the calls in the trenches against Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers' complex schemes.

Most important for Swanson is to gain a quick rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford in the likely event that Raiola doesn't win an appeal and can't play this next Sunday.