On Monday, the NFL decided not to suspend Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for putting his foot into a body part that is suspended from the lower waist of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.
As of Tuesday, no decision has been made regarding a possible fine.
It’s not unusual. As NFL spokesman Greg Aiello explains it, the fine letters typically go out, via email, on Wednesday or Thursday.
Though Merton Hanks, who makes the initial assessment of potential fines, opted not to impose a suspension on Suh, the guy who was suspended two games last year for stomping on Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith could still be fined.
Really, he should be. At a time when players routinely fork over five-figure amounts for illegal hits that aren’t applied intentionally, how can the league not fine Suh for a deliberate shove of his foot into the crotch of Schaub? Unless Suh’s leg had a Constanza-style spontaneous arm spasm, it was no accident.
And unless the NFL wants to launch a debate regarding the fairness of fining players for football hits that inadvertently go too high or too low and not fining players who engage in intentional misconduct, Suh and Saints defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley will be fined.