Buffalo Bills safety and special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. has had his one-game suspension reduced to a fine after a successful appeal.
NFL Senior Vice President of Football and International Communications Michael Signora announced Friday that hearing officer James Thrash lowered the penalty to a $14,926 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The change means Franklin is available when the Bills return from their bye week to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 on November 1.
The discipline originated from an alleged incident late in Buffalo’s 33-30 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.
League officials determined that Franklin spat at an opposing player after the Raiders converted an extra point with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Unlike teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was ejected during the game for spitting toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Franklin was not flagged or removed on the field.
Gardner-Johnson’s one-game suspension was later upheld on appeal, while Franklin’s was reduced.
Franklin has consistently denied the allegation. Shortly after the suspension was announced, he posted a slow-motion video of the extra-point play to Instagram with the caption “Not a dirty play what so ever! Will always defend myself though. Still won’t spit on anyone.”
The clip, which cut off before the play fully ended, appeared to show contact involving Raiders offensive lineman Delmar Glaze. Franklin’s agents, Harold C. Lewis and Christian Addison, stated that they “adamantly deny” he spat at anyone.
Public video angles have not clearly shown the act, contributing to the successful reduction of the penalty from a suspension to a fine.
Franklin, 30, entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 2020 and signed with the Carolina Panthers. He appeared in 14 games as a rookie and remained with Carolina through the 2024 season, earning restricted free agent tenders and subsequent one-year deals.
After a brief stint with the Denver Broncos that ended during final roster cuts last offseason, he joined the Bills, finished the 2025 campaign in Buffalo, and signed a three-year contract this past offseason.
Primarily a special teams contributor, he has played in six games this season and recorded six total tackles. Over his career he has compiled 124 tackles, one sack, and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The reduction provides a measure of relief for the Bills as they prepare for a key AFC matchup. With Gardner-Johnson sidelined, Franklin’s availability preserves depth on special teams and in the secondary for a team that has started 5-1.
The outcome also illustrates the role of the appeal process in NFL discipline, where evidence and representation can shift a game-missing suspension into a financial penalty.
