Eric Reid fined over $10K for late hit on Ben Watson

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid has been fined by the league over his late hit on New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Reid has been fined $10,527 for the hit, which also garnered a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty in the game.

#Panthers S Eric Reid was fined $10,527 for his late hit that injured #Patriots TE Ben Watson in a recent preseason game. Reid was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2019

Watson was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after the hit.

One of the interesting backdrops of this illegal hit by Reid on Watson is that the two had been clashing on social media about the NFL’s deal with Jay-Z.

Ben Watson leaves the field under his own power but did have his helmet taken from him. The late hit provided by Eric Reid. The two men not seeing eye to eye on Twitter this week fwiw. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/VKJK6X2U9e
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 23, 2019

Reid has since said that the hit had nothing to do with their disagreement, and he says he texted Watson to apologize.