The Carolina Panthers have suspended top receiver Steve Smith for two games after a training camp fight on Friday that left team mate Ken Lucas with a broken nose.
Smith will be allowed to continue practicing with the team, but will play no part in the season opener against the San Diego Chargers on September 7 or the home game against the Chicago Bears on September 14. Lucas was not suspended.
The team announced the decision on Saturday on their website. "What he did was wrong," Panthers coach John Fox told reporters. "We take it very serious, and he's being punished severely for it."
Three-times Pro Bowler Smith had 87 catches for 1,002 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season. It was the 29-year-olds fourth 1,000-yard receiving season of his career.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
