Bucs rookie cornerback Elbert Mack is appealing his one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

A hearing will be scheduled for later this week and a decision rendered before the Bucs play at Chicago Sunday, according to Ray Anderson, the NFL's Vice President of Football Operations.

Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy, was suspended for Sunday's game at Chicago, without pay, for a flagrant violation of player safety rules, his second this season.

""We take it very seriously,'' coach Jon Gruden said of the NFL's ruling. ""At the same time, we're going to loook into the situation and support Elbert. He's a good kid. They take hits like that seriously, the league does. And we respect certainly the policies the league has. I'll just say this: Elbert Mack is a great kid, there's nothing malicious about him. That's the best way I can put it right now.''

The Bucs can ill-afford to lose Mack this week. Cornerback Aqib Talib has a hamstring strain and is questionable for Sunday's game. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

""Anytime you lose a player that's playing good, it can hurt us,'' Gruden said.

Anderson said Mack unnecessarily launched himself into Ryan during the return of a fumble and made impermissable helmet-to-helmet contact with Ryan.

Mack was recently fined $5,000 for an unnecssary roughness penalty on Houston Texans quarterback Alex Brink.

""He's entitled to a hearing and one will be held this week,''  Anderson said. "And a decision rendered prior to the game.''