The Cleveland Browns, coming off arguably the most dispiriting Week 1 performance in football, have caught a much-needed break from the league office. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Browns starting left tackle Greg Robinson will face a fine rather than suspension for kicking Tennessee Titans safety Kenny Vaccardo in the head during the season-opener.
#Browns LT Greg Robinson, who was ejected for kicking #Titans S Kenny Vaccaro in the head yesterday, is facing a potential fine, but not a suspension, I’m told. A bit of good news for Cleveland, which visits the #Jets next Monday night.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 9, 2019
The incident in question occurred midway through the second quarter of Tennessee's 43-13 beatdown of Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium. Greg Robinson was falling backwards to the ground as a play ended when he kicked the nearby Vaccaro in the helmet with his right leg, a clear act of intent. Officials immediately flagged Robinson, and after video review ejected him from the remainder of the game.
Making matters worse for the Browns, his replacement, Kendall Lamm, suffered an injury on the next series of downs as Cleveland allowed a safety. Lamm was subsequently ruled out, forcing right tackle Chris Hubbard to switch over to the left side as the Browns attempted to make a long-shot comeback.
After the game, Vaccaro brushed off Robinson's kick, even going so far as to say he “feels bad” for Robinson's forthcoming fine and that he didn't want him to get ejected.
“We kind of hit each other and I knocked him over,’’ Vaccaro said of the interaction, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I guess the DB knocked him over, so he kicked me in my head. I thought it was funny, kind of. He fell back and he just kicked me in the head.”
The Browns play at the New York Jets in Week 2.
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