Los Angeles: Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay has been fined $15,750 by the NFL for a high hit on Cleveland quarterback Jason Campbell last Sunday.
Gay was not penalised on the play, but the league’s review found he “unnecessarily delivered a forcible blow to his opponent’s head and neck area”.
Campbell suffered a concussion and has not practised this week, and Browns offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner said it was clear he was hit in the facemask of his helmet.
“I thought he got hit in the face mask right from the beginning and then obviously you see the replay and it’s really easy to see from all the angles except the one that the referee had — he’s standing behind,” Turner said.
In other punishments revealed on Friday, Houston defensive lineman Antonio Smith was fined $15,750 for hitting Jaguars passer Chad Henne in the head and neck area in the Texans’ loss to Jacksonville.
Dolphins pass rusher Cameron Wake was fined $15,750 for a hit on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over Miami.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was docked $10,000 for a hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan that drew a roughing the passer penalty.
Oft-penalised Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was docked $7,875 for his throat-slashing gesture in a game against Tampa Bay.
The fine pales against the $100,000 he was docked earlier this season for a low hit on Minnesota’s John Sullivan. He was also fined $31,500 for leading with his helmet in a tackle of Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden this year.
The sanctions are more of the same for Suh, who has been fined multiple times in the course of his career and met with league commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his conduct during the 2011 season.
