Rozelle Lets Townsend Play Today--’Pending a Further Review’

NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who suspended Raider defensive end Greg Townsend last week, Saturday suspended the suspension. Townsend is eligible to play against Seattle today at the Coliseum.

“Based on the evidence produced in yesterday’s (Friday’s) hearing, I have decided that Greg Townsend’s discipline should be (held) in abeyance pending a further review,” Rozelle said in New York.

Rozelle, referring to Townsend’s action in the fight in Kansas City last Sunday, added: “None of this kind of behavior, provoked or unprovoked, can be tolerated in the NFL.”

This suggests that Rozelle still intends to mete out some penalty, perhaps a fine.

Raider Coach Tom Flores said: “The damage is done. What with the distractions we’ve had this week. I’m happy for Greg, and the team, but we still don’t know what’s to come in the week ahead. We didn’t think it was right, especially the way it disrupted our practice week. They had us changing from Plan A to Plan B and back to Plan A.”