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NFL rescinds George Iloka’s one-game suspension, Steelers fans are irate

As JuJu Smith-Schuster’s one-game suspension stood, George Iloka saw his reduced to just a fine.

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL isn’t doing itself any favors when it comes to the heated rivalry which is Steelers vs. Bengals. After the most recent affair on Monday Night Football in Week 13, the league suspended both JuJu Smith-Schuster and George Iloka one-game for their individual hits in the fourth quarter of the game.

Smith-Schuster and Iloka both appealed the suspension, only to have Smith-Schuster’s appeal denied, but on Wednesday the NFL stated Iloka’s suspension was rescinded and would only pay a fine for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Antonio Brown.

Here is what Iloka’s agent had to say regarding the decision:

You can imagine the anger felt within the Steelers’ locker room, and certainly throughout the fan base, as a player like Rob Gronkowski, who intentionally tried to injury another player on Sunday in Buffalo, received the same punishment as Smith-Schuster, who was blocking for Le’Veon Bell on the play.

The one-game suspension is bad enough, but the fact the NFL reduced Iloka’s one-game suspension and not Smith-Schuster’s is just another example of a bad precedent being set by the powers-that-be in the league office.

So, to wrap things up, while Smith-Schuster will miss a huge game in the AFC North vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, Iloka will be out creating havoc for the Bengals in a likely meaningless Week 14 game.