Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle dislocation in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, courtesy of a tackle by linebacker Roquan Smith. Initially, Smith faced a $16,883 fine for the alleged “hip-drop” tackle. However, upon appeal, NFL hearing officer Jordy Nelson rescinded the fine, overturning the league’s initial decision.
Roquan Smith appealed the fine, and on Tuesday, NFL hearing officer Jordy Nelson overturned it. The decision spared Smith a $16,883 penalty for his tackle on Chris Godwin.
“Upon appeal, NFL hearing officer Jordy Nelson has rescinded the $16,883 fine levied against Ravens LB Roquan Smith for his alleged unnecessary roughness on Chris Godwin on the play that ended in the Bucs WR dislocating his ankle, per source.”
The NFL rescinded Roquan Smith’s fine for his tackle on Chris Godwin, likely determining it wasn’t a hip-drop tackle. This offseason, the league banned hip-drop tackles, enforcing them through fines but not field flags.
At some point the NFL needs to decide how much they value player safety. Otherwise these new rules and protocols just look like window dressing.
Follow, Like and Subscribe to Bucs Report
BucsReport.com
For more on this and everything Buccaneers check back here hourly at BucsReport.com
