On Saturday, the NFL punished Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith for an action he took against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Smith was involved in a couple of viral interactions with the Chiefs during the Ravens’ 27-20 loss last Thursday night.
Roquan Smith had a few questionable interactions in Week 1
In an interview after the game, Smith said Chiefs’ tight end Peyton Hendershot needed to “watch himself” the next time Smith saw Hendershot. Hendershot shoved Smith following the linebacker’s hit on Patrick Mahomes near the sideline.
Per replay, Smith appeared to hit Mahomes late.
No flag thrown even though Mahomes was well out of bounds when he got hit! #BALvsKC pic.twitter.com/2PsVZN6F1U
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 6, 2024
The league fined the Kansas City Chiefs and Peyton Hendershot
Per Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, the league fined Hendershot and the Chiefs for the shove of Smith:
The NFL fined the Kansas City Chiefs organization $100,000 and tight end Peyton Hendershot $5,472 for a sideline shove that drew the ire of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith in last week’s kickoff game, per sources.
The league fined the Baltimore Ravens ILB
It was unclear after the play if the league intended to fine Smith for hitting Mahomes late. Per Pelissero, the league did not fine Smith for hitting Mahomes late. However, the league handed Smith a hefty fine of $16,883 for unnecessary roughness on a horse-collar tackle of wide receiver Rashee Rice in the first quarter.
Per Jonas Shaffer with the Baltimore Banner, here is the video of the illegal tackle that the league fined Smith for.
The NFL fined Ravens ILB Roquan Smith $16,883 for unnecessary roughness on this horse collar tackle. pic.twitter.com/3JlD3zcT7D
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) September 14, 2024
Per reports on league fines in Week 1 by Pelissero and Aaron Wilson, the league fined Smith the most money of any player on Saturday.
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau was fined $4,696 for a hip-drop tackle on Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison. The league fined Houston Texans running back British Brooks $4,444 for lowering his head to make a tackle on a kickoff in Week 1.
