The Monday night skirmish between New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph and Washington Redskins center Will Montgomery is what makes the NFC East in December so great. Unfortunately, the NFL can't look the other way.
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Following an Alfred Morris fumble in the third quarter of the Redskins' huge 17-16 win, Joseph tried to pull Montgomery off the pile by yanking his left leg. Montgomery responded by using his right leg to deliver a shot to Joseph's groin. Justifiably angered, Joseph readied a Suh Stomp® before thinking better of it.
As expected, the fracas cost both men some money. Joseph has been fined $7,875 by the NFL for the incident. Montgomery was fined $10,000.
The financial disparity shows us that, while it's not prudent to yank on a man's legs, it's outright villainous to assault the space between. Glad that's settled.
Other fines from around the NFL:
» Andrew Luck continues to be bait for fines. The Colts' rookie quarterback found himself on the business end of a horse-collar tackle by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley in Indianapolis' dramatic win. The NFL fined Fairley $15,750 for that, bringing the grand total of fines for illegal hits against Luck to $113,250, according to Mike Chappell of The Indianapolis Star.
» Two San Francisco 49ers players drew fines for their action during their loss to the St. Louis Rams. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman was docked $10,000 for unnecessary roughness, and safety Dashon Goldson was fined $7,875 for roughing the passer.
» Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams was fined $21,000 for unnecessary roughness after he struck Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart in the head/neck area. Fortunately for Williams, the Packers were able to knock off their NFC North rivals. And unfortunately for the Vikings, defensive end Everson Griffen and linebacker Jasper Brinkley were fined. Griffen was docked $15,750 for roughing the passer, and Brinkley was fined $7,875 for a facemask penalty. What's more, Griffen's penalized infraction wiped out an interception by fellow defensive end Jared Allen.
» It was a rough week for Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. On top of being diagnosed with a hamstring injury after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the veteran drew a $21,000 fine for unnecessary roughness on a horse-collar tackle.
» Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was fined $25,000 for roughing the passer against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Miller struck Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman below the knee.
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» Newly acquired Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin was docked $21,000 for unnecessary roughness after he struck a Buffalo Bills player in the head/neck area during last week's loss.
» Baltimore Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger was fined $5,250 for violating the NFL's uniform policy. Kruger reportedly was fined for the back of his jersey being too high, exposing the bottom of his shoulder pads.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
