The safety of the Cincinnati Bengals Shawn Williams was sent off Sunday due to a useless harshness as a result of a quarterback blow to the Colts of Indianapolis, Andrew Luck.

Although the referees' crew initially did not choose to eject Williams, the team later announced that Williams would be disqualified.

Luck came out of the pocket and rushed left on a third and seventh. While Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson brought good luck on the ground, Williams threw himself into luck, hitting the quarterback in the helmet with his helmet and left shoulder.

The game went on with 3:10 to play in the first quarter.

Al Riveron, senior vice president of the NFL's arbitration, wrote that he had upheld the decision. A spokesman for the league confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the ejection was due to unnecessary roughness rather than the new rule on helmets.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @ LorenzoGReyes.

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