Denver Broncos defensive back T.J. Ward received a pair of fines stemming from the team's game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. The first was a $17,363 fine for his hit on Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and the second was a uniform violation.
Broncos’ T.J. Ward plans to appeal 2 fines he received vs. Colts
Ward was fined for a hit on Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton and for a uniform violation.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The play in question occurred in the first quarter when Hilton caught a pass from Andrew Luck. Ward hit him quickly after the reception and his helmet clearly hit Hilton’s helmet. Ward wasn’t pleased about the unnecessary roughness penalty that was called, posting pictures of the hit on his Instagram.
The problem with that is the fact that the picture he chose was after the initial contact. In his picture, Ward is hitting Hilton in the chest, but just prior to that, his helmet clearly hits Hilton’s, as noted by the folks at Mile High Report.
As for the uniform violation, Ward was fined $5,700 for for having his jersey untucked. He said that he always plays that way and this is the first time the NFL has decided to fine him.
Ward plans to appeal both fines, though he says he expected the fine for his hit on Hilton.
“I expected it, but I’m going to fight it,” Ward said.
Following the game, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak spoke in support of Ward, saying he performed how he was taught by the coaches on that play.
“You get your head out of the play, you come in there with your shoulder and you come in at the chest level,” Ward said, via Klis. “We felt like he did what he was asked to do, so we’ll see the reaction.”
That was before the fine and before Ward announced his intent to appeal the fine. Given the clear helmet to helmet contact, it seems unlikely the league would remove the fine.
That said, in a recent explanation of why Dallas Cowboys safety Jeff Heath didn't get fined for a similar hit on Seattle Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said that intent is a factor when considering fines and punishment in review.
“It’s basically strict liability on the player initiating the contact,” Blandino said of actual calls on the field. “Now as part of the discipline process, when it’s reviewed during the week, you can consider mitigating factors.”
Those mitigating factors include whether or not a player changes head level. With the league administering a fine in this case, it seems they have determined that Ward didn’t do enough to avoid the helmet-to-helmet contact.
See More:
