Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s wallet got lighter Friday but at least the dirty hit that cost him $21,000 won’t cost him any game time.
The NFL hit DRC with the fine for a hit to the head of Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in the Birds' 24-23 win over Pittsburgh last week.
Per NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk:
Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 for unnecessary roughness, the league office confirmed to PFT today. In the view of the league, Rodgers-Cromartie unnecessarily struck Leftwich in the head and neck area while Leftwich was considered a defenseless player.
The fine amount of $21,000 represents a 5 percent increase over the $20,000 fine that a similar hit would have drawn last season. Article 46 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement states, “The designated minimum fines will increase by 5% for the 2012 League Year, and each League Year thereafter during the term of this Agreement.”
DRC told Philly Magazine’s Sheil Kapadia that he thought the hit was clean and didn’t regret the hard hit.
“Regrets? We’re playing football, man,” DRC said.
This fine shows the NFL disagrees and considering how the NFL deals with repeat offenders -- possible suspensions -- DRC should be careful as the season goes on.
