Bills defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. has been suspended for one game for a spitting incident that occurred during the Week 6 win over the Raiders, making him the second Buffalo player suspended for the same act.
Franklin will be banned for one game without pay over the incident that occurred with just over 1:30 left in the game, when he is said to have spit at Las Vegas right tackle DJ Glaze following an extra point.
“With 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter following Las Vegas’ successful extra point attempt, Franklin Jr. spit at an opponent, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’” the NFL’s statement read.
Franklin will appeal the suspension.
“We adamantly deny Sam spit at anyone,” his agents Harold C. Lewis and Christian Addison told NFL insider Tom Pelissero in a statement. “We look forward to the process fully exonerating him tomorrow at the hearing and the apology he deserves.”
An appeal will be heard by either Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash, who are jointly appointed and paid by the league and the NFL Players Association.
It’s the second suspension a Bills player has received for spitting after the NFL suspended C.J. Gardner-Johnson without pay for a game after he was ejected in the same matchup for spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the first half.
Bills coach Joe Brady said earlier in the week that the team would not punish Gardner-Johnson further than the league’s discipline.
Buffalo has a bye week this week, so any suspension that is to be served by Franklin would take place during Week 8 when the Bills face the Ravens in Western New York.
