Last Saturday during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings, linebacker Antwione Williams was hit with a 15-yard penalty on a sack that appeared to be textbook.
It was such a textbook tackle that many who cover the game, and almost all casual fans watching at home, were aghast that it drew a flag.
Now here comes the kicker.
Williams was fined by the league.
https://twitter.com/twanyouafool/status/1032643855869390849
To the tune of $20,054, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, who wrote he was fined “for putting his body weight on the quarterback while making the hit.”
Between calls like this one and the unbelievable helmet-rule penalties we’ve seen this preseason, it’s hard to know what defenders can do to bring ball-carriers down without drawing a flag any more.
For what it’s worth, many players have said the new rules are impossible, and one head coach believes they will end up getting people fired.