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“See Antonio Smith (Houston) play from the preseason as relevant,” said one league source, a reference to a play in a preseason game in which the Texans defensive end yanked off the helmet of Richie Incognito and tossed it, earning a suspension for two preseason games plus the season opener.
Walden ripped the helmet off Titans tight end Delanie Walker on Thursday night and then struck him with a headbutt while still wearing his helmet. It's an action that on initial review in the past few days has struck NFL officials as egregious and worthy of a suspension.
No official discipline will be handed down on the matter until Monday -- when players are usually notified of suspensions -- and Walden could always appeal as well. Earlier this season Bucs safety Dashon Goldson had his suspension lessened to a $100,000 fine, for instance, and Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather had a two-game suspension reduced to one game by the arbitrator, who are hired jointly by the NFL and NFLPA and operate independent of the league office in that regard.