Linebacker James Harrison has appealed his one-game suspension from the NFL but this time coach Mike Tomlin did not throw his support behind his player.

Tomlin, in fact, agreed that Harrison's helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy was an illegal one and said his All-Pro linebacker must suffer the consequences.

"Of course, the quarterback was out of the pocket," Tomlin said of the play during Thursday's game at Heinz Field. "He had tucked the ball. He had hurt us running pretty good to that point in the game. But really all of those things are irrelevant. He hit him. He hit him illegally, and he has to suffer the consequences.

"Obviously, it is disappointing, because like I had said earlier, the efforts that he has made. I think that is his first foul on the quarterback since November 2010. But based on the guidelines that the league has supplied, he is a repeat offender. So, we and he, have to suffer the consequences accordingly."

Harrison was not fined by the league, but he will be docked one game's pay for the suspension, or approximately $73,500.

Pending his appeal, Harrison will not play in Monday night's game in San Francisco.

"We will ask for an expedited hearing because we're dealing with a suspension," his agent, Bill Parise said.

An NFL spokesman said the appeal will be heard by Ted Cottrell, a defensive coach in the NFL for 30 years who rules on such appeals based on a rotating basis with another former coach, Art Shell. The two are hired and paid jointly by the league and the NFL Players Association.

The spokesman said a ruling can be expected before the Monday night game. Until there is a ruling on the appeal -- and if the suspension is upheld -- Harrison cannot practice, work out or attend meetings with his teammates.