Cornerback Tramon Williams is the latest member of the Packers to get hit with a hefty fine for a hit during a game.
The NFL has confirmed that Williams has been fined $21,000 for a hit on Vikings running back Toby Gerhart that was deemed unnecessary roughness. Williams was penalized for the hit in the Packers’ 23-14 victory, which occurred when Gerhart was trying to catch a pass down the sideline and Williams delivered a blow that made contact with Gerhart’s helmet. Coach Mike McCarthy went nuts about the call on the sideline and Williams said earlier this week that he would appeal a fine if the NFL issued one because he doesn’t know what to do differently.
Four Packers players have been fined $78,000 for hits this season and we’ve heard similar complaints from them after the previous fines. Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel wrote a piece this week quoting several Packers expressing their dismay at the system in place in the NFL. One of the beefs Dunne mentions is that the team believes refs are too quick to throw flags on hits that look bad without being illegal.
They aren’t the only team making complaints along those lines, which doesn’t make it any more likely that they’ll be changing any time soon.