It looks like safety Dashon Goldson isn’t the only Buccaneers player who received an envelope from the league with news of a fine for their actions during an 18-17 loss to the Jets that was painful enough without any money being taken from their pockets.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that linebacker Lavonte David has been fined $7,875 after being penalized for a late hit on Jets quarterback Geno Smith in the final seconds of the game. The Jets used the 15 yards to set Nick Folk up for the game-winning field goal.
David said after the game that he felt Smith was still in bounds when contact was made, something the officials disagreed with at the time and something the league obviously disagrees with as well. Per Rapoport, David plans to appeal the fine.
The play was close to the line between legal and illegal, but it doesn’t feel like an appeal that’s likely to meet much success. The league’s been pretty clear about when and how players can be hit and David’s play is one that regularly leads to both flags and fines under the current rules. Between Folk’s field goal and the cash, it’s wound up being a high price for David to pay for a play made without any apparent malicious intent in the heat of the moment.