Packers linebacker Brad Jones drew a personal foul flag for a hit on Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford during the Packers’ win on Sunday. Stafford also drew a personal foul flag for a hit of his own.
But the NFL only fined one of those players. And it wasn’t the quarterback.
The NFL has confirmed to PFT that Jones was fined $15,750 for roughing the passer for a hit to Stafford’s head. And the NFL has also confirmed to PFT that Stafford was not fined for the low block penalty he picked up when he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was fined for a low block on a pick six two weeks ago, and it’s only fair that quarterbacks get fined for hits like that: Taking out a defensive player at the knee while he’s running full speed in the opposite direction on a teammate’s interception return is a good way to injure that defensive player. It shouldn’t be allowed.
So it’s surprising that Stafford wasn’t fined. I asked the league office to shed some light on why Vick was fined but Stafford wasn’t, but I got no response.