- (Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE)
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 on Friday for his hit against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich during their Aug. 9 exhibition game.
The fine was for unnecessary roughness, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. The league felt that Rodgers-Cromartie unnecessarily struck Leftwich in the head and neck area while the quarterback was considered a defenseless player.
Rodgers-Cromartie, who said he did not think he did anything wrong, was penalized on the first-quarter play in which he launched himself into Leftwich as the quarterback scrambled out of the pocket and flipped the ball away.
Last year, the fine would have been $20,000 but the collective bargaining agreement stipulates a 5 percent yearly increase in fine amounts.