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 Tuesday, November 23
Missed bed check is final straw for Mora
 
ESPN.com news services

 INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts suspended defensive end Shawn King and safety Tito Wooten for four weeks on Monday after the two players missed bed check over the weekend.

Tito Wooten
Wooten

Shawn King
King

Monday's action followed the Colts' trip to Philadelphia, where the two players missed bedcheck Saturday night and did not come in until 5 a.m. on game day, coach Jim Mora said. The two were left messages to meet with Mora at 9 a.m., and neither player showed for the meeting.

"I'm not going to comment on it anymore," Mora said. "As far as I'm concerned, they're out of here for four weeks, maybe longer. Who knows? I don't worry about it anymore.

"They break rules, they pay the price. It's that simple."

King, a starter, has 45 tackles and 1½ sacks this season. Wooten, signed as a free agent after five years with the New York Giants, has 18 tackles as a backup. Neither played in the Colts' 44-17 victory over the Eagles and will not be paid for Sunday's game.

Mora said the Colts will re-sign safety Eric Smedley, who was released earlier, to take one roster spot, but he was unsure about filling the other position. Veteran Mark Thomas replaced King on Sunday and had three tackles and a sack. Rookie Billy Austin filled in at nickel back in Wooten's absence.

"It's something I felt had to be done," Mora said of the suspensions. "They're both good football players and have played well for us, but when things like this happen you have to handle it like we have and you go on. I don't worry about it. I don't lose any sleep over it.

"They severely violated team rules and they're paying the price. End of story."

Mora also said both players had been serious violators of team rules in the past.

The Colts (8-2) have won six straight and are tied with the Miami Dolphins for first place in the AFC East. Indianapolis will host the New York Jets on Sunday and play at Miami on Dec. 5.

 


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