New York Jets safety Eric Smith’s fine for illegal hit halved after appeal – NFL news
New York Jets safety Eric Smith’s fine for hitting a defenceless wide receiver of Pittsburgh Steelers Emmanuel Sanders in the American Football Conference Championship Game has been halved to $5,000 after his appeal.
Smith hit Sanders early on in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game on 23 January, 2011, which the Jets lost 24-19. A flag was thrown on the play and there was a 15-yard penalty. According to sources, Smith said in his appeal that he did not hit
a defenceless receiver. Many fans who watched the game agree with Smith.
Being fined is nothing new to Smith and this is not the largest amount taken out of his pocket for an illegal hit. Back in 2008, Smith was fined $50,000 and suspended for one game by the National Football League for a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit to Anquan
Boldin, who was a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals at the time. Boldin was hospitalised after the hit while Smith also missed some playing time due to his suspension.
In Week 2 of the 2011 season, Smith was penalised for hitting New England Patriots’ wide receiver Wes Welker, who was classified as a defenseless receiver during the moment of impact. Smith later apologised to Welker and Welker accepted. He was later fined
$7,500 by the NFL.
Smith was selected as a safety in the third round, overall pick number 97 of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Michigan State University. The Columbus, Ohio native had been creating quite a stir in the weeks prior to the NFL Draft. Analysts said that his physicality
and instincts on the field made him a good player. He was signed by the Jets on 21 July, 2006.
In his rookie season, he played in 15 games, starting none, and racked up 27 tackles, only eight of which were assisted, along with two interceptions that he returned for one yard. The first interception of his professional career was against the then-Cleveland
Browns quarterback Charlie Frye.
In 2007, Smith played in 15 games, starting four of them, and recorded 40 tackles, 26 of which were solo, along with five passes deflected. In 2008, the year that Smith was fined for hitting Boldin, he played in nine games, starting six, and had 32 tackles,
13 of which were aided, and four deflected passes coupled with one interception returned for six yards.
In 2009, Smith started four games of the 16 that he played in and recorded 48 combined tackles, only 10 of which were assisted. He also deflected six passes and had one interception returned for no yardage. In 2010, Smith started in six games, playing in
13, and had 54 tackles, 10 assisted, and two deflected passes.
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