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- 10/22/2011, 01:54PM ET
Was The $10,000 Fine To Troy Polamalu By The NFL Excessive?
HOOTZ said 10/22, 01:54 PM
I think everyone is aware of the situation that unfolded last Sunday in Pittsburgh as the Steelers were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu sustained a mild concussion while tackling Maurice Jones-Drew.
He was taken out of the game because of concern over his history of past brain injuries but was believed to be alright and in no danger from the hit. He came out of the game as a precaution.
After a thorough examintation by the team Dr., he was told he'd be ok but still needed to undergo a routine post concussion screening before he would be allowed to play again. (He has since passed that test.)
Here's the problem: While still in the bench area Polamalu asked the Dr. if he could borrow his cell phone to call his wife and assure her he was going to be ok. The call was brief and was overseen by Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
BAM!!! NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell tagged Polamalu with a $10,000 fine for using an electronic device in the bench area? An overreaction to say the least.
Polamalu should have been WARNED not to do it again and fined appropriately. I say the fine was excessive.
If you disagree, please accept this TD.
Baltimore Sports Fan said 10/22, 03:05 PM
National Football League rules state: "possession of cell phones, [personal digital assistants] or other electronic equipment in the bench area during a game is strictly prohibited by league policy beginning 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game."
Now if your argument is that $10k is an excessive amount, remember that Polamalu just signed a four-year contract extension Monday worth $30.19 million, that makes him the highest-paid player in Steelers team history and one of the NFL's top-paid defensive backs.
$10k is a slap on the wrist. He is part of the 1%.
If I was fined $1 for parking in a handicap spot, I'd probably do it for convenience and pay the fine.
Polamalu Pile-a-doo-doo knew there would be consequences, but disregarded the rules.
HOOTZ said 10/22, 09:52 PM
My argument is specific to this particular ruling. My oppinion would be the same even if Polamalu had signed a $1 Billion contract extension on Monday.
Goodell has been on a crusade to clean up the league for years. At times his policing policies outweigh the infraction that is being policed. The Polamalu fine is a prime example.
Over the past couple of seasons Goodell's main focus has been on reducing the amount of head injuries sustained by on field hits. Yet, when one of the top defenive players in the league actually recieves blunt force trauma to the head from such a hit, Goodell rules it inappropriate for the man to use the Drs. phone to call his wife and tell her he's going to be ok?
Polamalu Pile-a-doo-doo knew there would be consequences, but disregarded the rules
What he knew is that he just got hit in the head real hard. He was certainly aware of that. And what's with libeling Polamalu here? He's a human being and you speak of him like he is someones cattle?
Antonio Smith/ Fined $7,500 for pulling off the helmet of Ravens guard Andre Gurode
Brandon Pettigrew/ Fined $7,500 for a chop block
Polamalu Fined $10,000 for using a cell phone???
MTC
Baltimore Sports Fan said 10/23, 10:10 PM
Forfeited Turn
HOOTZ said 10/24, 12:55 PM
I'm sorry you weren't able to submit your 2nd argument. However, I must move on.
"$10k is a slap on the wrist. He is part of the 1%."
Then it's conceivable that this rule has the potential of being broken every week. But for some reason this is an isolated case. Under your way of thinking, there's really nothing stopping a player from doing this.
"If I was fined $1 for parking in a handicap spot, I'd probably do it for convenience and pay the fine."
In this statement you appear to be saying that you see nothing wrong with Polamalu making the phone call? You yourself would have done the same thing? You seem to be waffling on the issue.
I think you're downplaying the enormity of the situation. If you've ever had the experience of seeing someone who has just sustained a concussion (I'm assuming you haven't), you would know just how scary it is. Calling my wife afterward would be the first thing I would do.
I just want to pose this one question to you: Why did that phone call under those circumstances warrent a much stiffer fine than a chop block or tearing someones helmet off their head?
Goodell seems insensitive to the family aspect here.
Baltimore Sports Fan said 10/25, 01:10 PM
Forfeited Turn
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Comments (121) Add A Comment
Agreed. I don't know if anyone will think he should be fined 10K for letting his wife know he is ok.
YankeesFan
Total Comments (14990)
The Commissioner should have given a warning. But a $10,000 fine could be viewed as one when considering his salary, while keeping the perception that the infraction was still being upheld. Good topic though.
HQQD
Total Comments (232)
Have to agree with Hooters.
FAB4
Total Comments (222)
While it's entirely possible right is just making a return to FN, and I probably shouldn't even bring this up because it's unfair as it's based on nothing, I just find the timing interesting for an account from 2008 that wasn't very active to come back during this whole dupe "occupy FN" thing. Speaking of which, haven't seen SBTB recently.
YankeesFan
Total Comments (14990)
Well put.
Mondo Jay
Total Comments (20411)
It's a little more fair to bring this topic up after seeing that one of his 4 friends is Cassidy's House.
YankeesFan
Total Comments (14990)
I do, but I won't say why until right makes his argument.
williewilliejuan
Total Comments (36255)
Guy on the right is just very thoughtful about his comments. The last one was about two years ago....
Mondo Jay
Total Comments (20411)
I know a rule is a rule, and you don't want to set a precedent for letting people break them unpunished, but I think sometimes the NFL just needs to use a little common sense. Maybe your point isn't that they don't want to use this precedent of players not being fined, but that's my take on it anyway. Like the MLB not allowing the Mets to wear America-themed batting gloves or apparel on the 9/11 anniversary because it didn't comply with league uniform rules.
YankeesFan
Total Comments (14990)
The fine was BS. Goody is an idiot for fining a guy for letting his wife know he's okay.
PatsFan21
Total Comments (1467)
Especially 10 thousand dollars.
PatsFan21
Total Comments (1467)
Not batting gloves, it was FDNY hats, but my point is still the same. Even if it breaks the rules, technically, the league in question is allowed to use common sense.
YankeesFan
Total Comments (14990)
Good common courtesy goes a long way.
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Total Comments (3855)
*IMO
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Total Comments (3855)
"Pile-a-doo-doo" could hurt his/her cause.
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Total Comments (3855)
*IMO
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Total Comments (3855)
But once you allow subjective application of the rules, where does it stop?
- A player wants to call his mom to wish her a happy birthday?
- A player calls home to make sure his wife remembered to defrost the chicken?
- A player calls his agent after a big play to say he needs to negotiate for more pay?
- A player calls his girlfriend to let her know his rash cleared up?
Once you open the door to punishing some for violating the rules and letting others slide, you are just asking for trouble.
williewilliejuan
Total Comments (36255)
I'm with you Willie.
Law and Order, I say!!
hbomb
Total Comments (26401)
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