Sam Franklin Jr. became the second Buffalo Bills safety to receive a one-game suspension without pay from the NFL for spitting at a Las Vegas Raiders player on Sunday.
Franklin, a special teams captain, received his punishment for unsportsmanlike conduct from the league on Wednesday morning, two days after teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson was banned one game for the same offense.
Gardner-Johnson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected after spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the Bills’ 33-30 road win.
Per the NFL release, Franklin spat at an opposing player after Las Vegas made an extra point with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The spitting infractions violate Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
WGR reported that Franklin plans to appeal and “vehemently denies” that he spat at a player.
The suspensions are set to begin Oct. 26, after the Bills’ Week 7 bye. Franklin and Gardner-Johnson will be eligible to return to the active roster on Nov. 2, following the team’s Nov. 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Franklin, 30, has recorded six tackles on special teams in six games this season. He has 124 tackles and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in 97 career games (nine starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2020-24) and Bills.