Detroit Lions first-round defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been fined $15,000 for his hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, Mike O'Hara of FOX Sports Detroit reports. "It’s ridiculous," Roosevelt Barnes, Suh's agent, confirmed to O'Hara on Wednesday. Suh was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting a scrambling Cutler from behind with nine minutest to play in the fourth quarter. Detroit, who led by 3 points, was penalized half the distance to the goal, with the Bears scoring the game-winning touchdown on the following play. Referee Ed Hochuli determined that Suh committed "an unnecessary football act" as the reason for the fine, and the NFL apparently agrees. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz defended Suh on Monday. "It's been reported that the flag was thrown because Cutler was hit in the back of the head when he was in the process of going down. I think it's fairly obvious that neither of those ended up being correct," said Schwartz. Source: macsfootballblog
Goes to show you they don't even look at the film. This wasn't even a border line call. Hands on the upper back, like all of the non pr**ks that make these judgements, saw. Total bullcrap, and an excellent example of why they need someone else to make these rulings besides the current Goodell Gestapo.
I could almost understand the "penalty." But after viewing the film from multiple angles, they come to the conclusion that he needs to be fined? lol...
Word. This is EXACTLY my gripe with the fines (everybody has to have one) is that instead of reviewing the film and fining based on what really did or did not happen they sometimes levy bullcrap fines rather then admit the refs might have made an outcome changing mistake.
The penalty was a bad enough call but the ref's dont get to watch it over and over before they make a final determination. Dictator Goodell can watch as many angles and times as he wants and he stills comes to the conclusion to fine him. Just ridiculous.
The call I understand, you don't see everything correctly in real time. However, the penalty is just the NFL attempting to validate a poor call.
Even as a Bear's fan I agree with everybody's comments here. In real-time the tackle by Suh looked a bit vicious, but replay showed the hit to be 100% legal. How do you fine a player for not doing anything illegal?
Probably because they would have clubbed Cutler in the head. Besides, they do enough crying on their own...they don't need my help. Suh at least took this bullcrap like a man.
