NFL suspends Harrison for hit

An investigation by the NFL and the Players Association into the Browns' handling of Colt McCoy's concussion could lead to changes in the league's protocol on head injuries.

McCoy sustained a concussion when he was flattened via a helmet-to-face mask collision launched by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison in a game last Thursday night.

League and NFLPA representatives met with the Browns on Tuesday to discuss McCoy's injury.

The Browns said McCoy did not show symptoms of a concussion until after the game. Coach Pat Shurmur said the team followed medical protocol before the QB was allowed to return just minutes after absorbing the hit.

The league suspended Harrison for one game, making him the first player to miss game time as a penalty under the league's revamped policy on such collisions.

Harrison's agent Bill Parise said Harrison has already filed an appeal and expects it to be heard later this week by Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, jointly appointed by the NFL and the players' association.

In the wake of the firings of Miami's Tony Sparano and Kansas City's Todd Haley, the hot seat now rests under St. Louis' Steve Spagnuolo.

And it's hottest of all under the seat of Rams' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Quarterback Sam Bradford played Monday night on a left ankle so painful he could hardly step into his throws.

Yet McDaniels called for Bradford to run a naked bootleg at the goal line that ended with the QB getting pummeled, then flagged for intentional grounding.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch cited McDaniel on Tuesday:

"Calling a bootleg for a quarterback who's gimping around on high ankle sprain? Put Bradford at risk instead of giving the rock to [star running back] Steven Jackson? This is really awful coaching, folks."

And if the Rams coaches aren't next on the firing line, Tampa Bay's Raheem Morris might be.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, "The Bucs fired Jon Gruden after he lost only seven games in the regular season. They fired Tony Dungy after he lost only seven games in the regular season. Morris? He has lost seven in a row. And counting."

Seattle's Doug Baldwin, an undrafted rookie out of Stanford, showed the rest of the NFL what it's missing on Monday night.

While playing on special teams, the receiver blocked a first-quarter punt that was returned by Michael Robinson for a touchdown, then caught a 29-yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson in the third period as the Seahawks beat staggering St. Louis, 31-13.