Antonio Smith's helmet-swinging ways came at a significant cost.
Citing a person briefed on the matter, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Smith will be suspended for the Texans' finaltwo preseason games and season opener for ripping off Richie Incognito's helmet and nearly striking the Miami Dolphins offensive lineman with it during a preseason game Saturday.
The Houston Texans defensive end plans to appeal the ban, a person informed of Smith's thinking told Rapoport. Smith is in line to miss the team's Week 1 matchup against the San Diego Chargers. The league confirmed the suspension Wednesday.
Rapoport reported Monday that the NFL was reviewing the video, looking at it as being beyond a football action, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Smith and Incognito have a history dating to last season, when Smith was fined $21,000 (later reduced to $11,000 on appeal) for kicking Incognito during a Week 1 matchup. Smith said he kicked at Incognito because the guard was grabbing and twisting his ankle -- a claim the tape appeared to back up.
Incognito addressed the situation Tuesday.
"Football is an intense game. It is played with a lot of passion," Incognito said, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "I'm no choir boy. People lost their cool."
Incognito added: "It has been a work in progress for me. I have too much respect for my team to retaliate."
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