Steelers James Harrison Suspended One Game for Hit on Browns Colt McCoy

(NewsCore) - The NFL suspended Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison Tuesday for one game without pay for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Harrison, who has been fined several times for helmet-to-helmet hits, will appeal the decision, ESPN reported.

In a statement announcing the punishment, the NFL said an expedited hearing would take place this week to decide Harrison's appeal in advance of next week's game. The Steelers next play Monday night at San Francisco in a matchup of 10-3 teams.

The hit, which occurred late in Thursday night's win over the Browns, left McCoy with a concussion and a broken left hand. Harrison was flagged for a 15-yard penalty on the play.

The NFL concluded that McCoy was "defenseless" on the play, since he had just released the ball.

Harrison incurred $120,000 in fines last season, becoming the most visible target of the NFL's crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits.

The fines led to Harrison saying he "hated" commissioner Roger Goodell, calling him a "crook and a puppet" in a summer interview with Men's Journal magazine.