Titans safety Michael Griffin suspended one game for illegal hits

Titans safety Michael Griffin has 44 total tackles and one fumble recovery this season. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The NFL suspended Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin one game without pay for being a “repeat violator” of the NFL’s safety rules prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players, the league announced.

Griffin was banned for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera during the second quarter of the Titans' 23-19 win over the Raiders.  He will miss this Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The violation was Griffin’s second this season and fourth since 2011, all for striking defenseless players in the head and neck area, the league said. 

Griffin was fined $21,000 last month on his hit on New York Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill.

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