Brandon Meriweather gets $20,000 fine for hit on Smith

Chicago Bears safety Brandon Merriweather was fined $20,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers receiver Steve Smith last Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Merriweather was not penalized on the field for the hit on Smith, who continued running for a 22-yard gain after the pass completion.
The Bears’ safety told the Tribune he planned to appeal the fine.

Last season, Merriweather was fined $50,000 for two helmet-to-helmet hits on Baltimore Ravens’ tight end Todd Heap.
Smith said the hit forced him to the sideline not because his helmet had been damaged.

“One of the hits he did lead with his helmet and it kind of bent my facemask. So I had to switch my helmets,” Smith said.

“Like I told him, he was talking about, ‘I’m going to be here all day.’ And I just told him, ‘So will I.’ So I just take that, eat it, spit it out and that’s what I thought about it. Just keep it coming.”


(charlotteobserver.com)