ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady on Wednesday questioned the NFL’s disciplinary process for relying on hearsay without substantiated proof in the wake of special teams player Sam Franklin successfully appealing his one-game suspension for allegedly spitting at an opponent.
“An accusation on a player without evidence, and being hearsay, I think it sets a bad precedent,” Brady said as the AFC East-leading Bills (5-1) returned from their bye week to prepare to host Baltimore (4-3) on Sunday.
“It’s unfortunate that his name gets thrown out there. It’s unfortunate that he has to kind of go about that as if he’s a dirty football player,” he added. “I think it’s an opportunity, everybody needs to check their systems.”
Without providing details or video evidence, the NFL on Oct. 21 announced Franklin had been disciplined for violating its sportsmanship rules. The league said he spat at an opponent during an altercation with Raiders offensive lineman Delmar Glaze following an extra-point attempt with 1:32 remaining in Buffalo’s 33-30 win three days earlier.
Franklin disputed the allegation, saying he was defending himself without resorting to spitting at anyone. He posted a video on social media that showed Glaze appearing to strike Franklin below the waist.
On Friday, the league announced that hearing officer James Thrash reduced the punishment to a fine of $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
While Franklin will play against Baltimore, the Bills will be without starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was also suspended for one game for spitting in the direction of Raiders players. Gardner-Johnson lost his appeal.
Brady said there was a distinction between the two, with replays clearly showing Gardner-Johnson spitting.
“That’s inexcusable. That’s not what we’re about, right? He’s suspended for it, and that’s part of it,” Brady said
Franklin was relieved to have his reputation cleared.
“I’m just here to play football. I know I’m a clean player. My teammates know that and that’s all I have to say about it,” Franklin said. “The NFL did what they did. We won the appeal.”
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FILE - Buffalo Bills safety Sam Franklin Jr. (28) celebrates prior to the game against the Denver Broncos in an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young, File)
Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady talks to the media following an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — William Contreras became the eighth catcher voted the World Series MVP after lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship.
The heart and soul of the small-market Brewers, Contreras batted .381 while guiding Milwaukee's pitching staff and capitalizing on the first Series with the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system by winning 10 of 13 appeals. He had an RBI double during Milwaukee's clinching 4-1 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
“He posts every day," reliever Aaron Ashby said. "This team’s not what it is without this guy. He’s unbelievable.”
Moments after being awarded MVP, Contreras embraced his older brother, Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
“My brother’s my best friend,” William Contreras said through tears.
He teared up again when asked about Venezuela, his home country. Contreras was on Venezuela’s team that won its first World Baseball Classic in March, though he was 0 for 13 with no RBIs. He draped a Venezuelan flag over his shoulders while celebrating on the field Wednesday.
He and teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela joined Alex Bregman and Luke Gregerson (Team USA/Houston Astros in 2017) as the only players to win the WBC and World Series in the same year.
“It means everything because that’s the first time Venezuela guys win the WBC and the World Series," he said. "It’s history, history for my country. I love Venezuela. It’s my country.”
He joins Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (co-winner in 1981), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.
A three-time All-Star, the 28-year-old Contreras batted .270 with 18 homers and a career-best 94 RBIs as the Brewers won their fourth straight NL Central title.
He leveraged baseball's new robot umpire challenge system better than anyone, leading MLB with 185 challenges and 105 overturns during the regular season. He was right on 10 of 13 challenges in the World Series and 22 of 33 overall in the postseason.
He hit .444 with a pair of solo homers in the Division Series against San Diego, hitting a tiebreaking, seventh-inning drive in Game 1 and another homer in Game 3. He batted .357 with one homer and three RBIs in the Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Milwaukee had several worthy candidates for MVP. Cooper Pratt set a Series rookie record with six straight hits and tied Gil McDougald's rookie mark from 1951 with seven RBIs, including go-ahead hits in the final three games. Jackson Chourio had 11 hits, the most by a player in a five-game World Series. Ace Jacob Misiorowski allowed just one run in 10 2/3 innings, and reliever Aaron Ashby pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with a save and nine strikeouts.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates with manager Pat Murphy after their win against the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates his RBI double during the sixth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates with manager Pat Murphy after their win against the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras holds the MVP trophy after they won baseball's World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras celebrates after scoring during the sixth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates scoring on a sacrifice fly by Cooper Platt during the sixth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras celebrates after winning baseball's World Series, against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
