Chain snatching cited by NFL in 2-game ban of Broncos CB Talib

In a letter to Aqib Talib, the NFL cited the fact that the Denver Broncos cornerback snatched away Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s chain from his neck as part of the reasoning for suspending him for two games.

The league dropped the hammer on both Talib and Crabtree, banning each player two games for their roles in a melee during the early part of the first quarter of Sunday’s Broncos-Raiders game in Oakland.

Both players were also ejected from the game after the fight, and both plan to appeal the decision, according to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapaport. Raiders guard Gabe Jackson was also ejected for making contact with an official.

Both #Raiders WR Michael Crabtree and #Broncos CB Aqib Talib are appealing their suspensions, sources say.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2017

In letters to both Talib and Crabtree, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan outlined the full reasoning for the league’s discipline.

In the letter to Talib, Runyan said the Broncos cornerback “deliberately ripped your opponent’s chain from his neck just as you did last year when you played against him.”

Talib pulled a similar move on Crabtree in the Broncos 2016 season finale at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in January.

Runyan also said Talib “aggressively removed” Crabtree’s helmet, endangering him and sideline personnel, and threw a punch at the wide receiver after being “momentarily separated.”

As for Crabtree, Runyan cited not only his actions from the brouhaha as reasoning for the ban, but also that he “punched a Broncos opponent, Chris Harris, in the midsection.”

On Monday, however, Talib said he wasn’t trying to retaliate for Crabtree punching Harris.

“No, I didn’t even defend Chris. If you see the play, I didn’t defend Chris. He punched Chris, and the next play he came and punched me,” Talib said. “He was on his — whatever he was on. I wasn’t even defending Chris this time. That wasn’t even a problem.”

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph called the scrap a “personal battle” between Talib and Crabtree and it was “unacceptable.”

“We can’t have it. It’s non-negotiable,” Joseph said after the game. “Obviously, losing one of our best players and playing a young guy, it hurt us tonight. So, we can’t have it.”

But on Monday, Joseph walked the comments back a bit, saying he could understand Talib reacting out of defense of himself or his teammates.

“I told our guys I don’t want it, but once it happens, how does a guy not defend himself?” Joseph said. “Punches are being thrown and helmets are off — I don’t want it to happen, but if it does happen you can’t blame a man for defending himself.

“I want our guys to simply defuse and walk away. That’s what I want.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.