After Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw an interception in last week’s victory over the Seahawks, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett plastered him with a hit from behind and knocking Dalton to the ground before throwing in a forearm for good measure.
Bennett was penalized for unnecessary roughness for his actions, which probably could have drawn an even stiffer penalty given how little Bennett’s hit had to do with the play going on around them. Coach Pete Carroll said later that Bennett “lost his mind a little bit” and made a “real mistake.”
He’ll be losing some money as a result of losing his mind. PFT has confirmed with the league that Bennett has been fined $20,000 for the hit. Bennett was fined earlier this season for being involved in a fight during the team’s game against the Packers and he was also fined during the preseason for a hit on Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith.
As a habitual offender, his fines will go up if he continues to run afoul of the league’s rules and there could be other discipline handed down if Bennett can’t control himself on the field.