Troy Polamalu Fined After He Suffers a Concussion: A Look at NFL Injuries and Fines
The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ safety, Troy Polamalu, suffered a mild concussion in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 16. His symptoms caused him to leave the game early, and he was worried that his wife might think he had been more seriously injured, especially due to the fact that he’s had a history of brain injuries.
After Polamalu was examined by physicians on the sideline, he asked to borrow one of their cell phones to call his wife and let her know he was okay. Something that a kind and considerate husband should do, and especially considering all the stories we hear about athletes having numerous affairs or even being charged with domestic abuse against a spouse or partner, shouldn’t his behavior be rewarded and not punished?
Instead, the Steelers safety has been fined $10,000 because of the NFL rule that bans cell phones or other electronic technology near the bench areas. A steep price to pay for a quick phone call to his wife, and one that I feel the NFL should have made an exception for.
But life isn’t fair, and most the time, it’s the player who causes an injury that is fined. The Indianapolis Colts‘ linebacker A.J. Edds suffered a concussion last weekend after taking an exceptionally hard hit by Cincinnati Bengals‘ running back Cedric Peerman. Peerman was fined $20,000 for an illegal block, and Edds will likely miss the Colts next game against the Saints.
Jason Babin was a defensive end for the Tennessee Titans in 2010, and was fined a total of $35,000 last season for illegal hits. One of the worst came against the San Diego Chargers‘ quarterback, Phillip Rivers when Babin tried to take him down at the knees. A personal foul was called on the dirty play, with the fine justly deserved.
Babin continues his trend with the Philadelphia Eagles this year. He was fined $15,000 for a helmet hit to the neck of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Alex Smith. Babin was not pleased with the NFL commenting via Twitter: “Attn:Guy at the NFL that decides on who and how much players get fined Stop being a puppet, if you want to protect QB’s, get better linemen.”
If anyone should express displeasure at being fined, it’s Polamulu.
K.C. Dermody has been an avid runner and yoga enthusiast for twenty years, and as a trained yoga instructor she taught a variety of students from senior citizens to competitive athletes. She has also been an NFL fan for as long as she can remember, and enjoys combining her passion for sports, emotional and physical well-being with her love of writing.
More from this contributor:
One of the most common injuries in the NFL: Concussions
Oakland Raiders’ Jason Campbell Breaks Collarbone— A Look at the Injury in the NFL
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