Shocking deliberate eye poke

The NFL suspended Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib one game for poking an opponent in the eye.

In a media release, the league said vice president of football operations Merton Hanks imposed the penalty because "Talib’s action placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided."

9News Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis first reported the suspension, and also that Talib will appeal the punishment.

His appeal will be heard by one of two former players, Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, jointly chosen by the NFL and NFL Players' Association to hear such cases.

In the closing minutes of the Broncos' game in Indianapolis on Sunday, Denver's Von Miller and the Colts' Dwayne Allen were jawing at one another when Talib rushed into the dustup, reached into Allen's face mask and poked him in the eye.

Talib claimed it was an "honest mistake" though it looked more deliberate than accidental. Because of the penalty Talib got, the Colts went from facing a third-and-7 from the 13 to first-and-goal from the 6.