Report: Lewis plans to appeal $25,000 fine from NFL
Ray Lewis plans to appeal his $25,000 fine from the NFL for hitting Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, according to ESPN.
A Ravens spokesman told The Sun that he has not heard whether Lewis will contest the discipline. The fine represents 42.5 percent of Lewis’ weekly salary (he makes $58,823 for each of the 17 weeks of the regular season).
The Ravens middle linebacker was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter last Sunday for a helmet-to-helmet collision on Ochocinco. The blow knocked Ochocinco to the ground and dislodged his helmet.
The Bengals used that 15-yard penalty -- one of three flags on the Ravens’ defense during that game-winning drive -- to deliver their come-from-behind, 17-14 victory over the Ravens.
Ochocinco appealed Monday -- via Twitter -- to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to avoid punishing Lewis, writing, "please don't fine Ray Lewis Mr. Roger Goodell, it was a clean hit, it's part of the game, save the fines for me."
The Ravens didn’t expect “any repercussions” on Lewis.
"Watching it on TV, I think it was in the strike zone [which is below the neck and above the knees]," coach John Harbaugh said. "But I'm sure that is something [the NFL] will take look at and we'll find and see. As far as the game, that's a tough call to make either way."
Comments
I can't stand Roger Goodell. Plan and simple, he is just ruining the game of football. They may as well have the pom pom girls strap it up.
Posted by: Wolfe | October 16, 2009 12:34 PM
That was a BS call and it is a BS fine. Nobody wants dirty, unsafe play, but the league is going too far. The NFL is a rough game played by big boys. It is also quite obvious that the Ravens come under closer scrutiny than other teams.
Posted by: Steveg85321 | October 16, 2009 12:41 PM
Somehow I'm sure he makes more than $58K per game...
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Ray makes $1M this season. Divide that by 17 weeks (they get paid for the bye). I'm not a math expert but I do have a calculator.
-Jamison.
Posted by: Kyle | October 16, 2009 1:30 PM
The fine was appropriate and the appeal will be denied. I see no real reason why he thinks he shouldn't be disciplined. Read the rule book Ray...or have someone read it to you.
Posted by: ItIsMe2 | October 16, 2009 1:32 PM
I guess the NFL is trying to make up shortfalls on TV stuff
The amount of the fine is outrageous!
The appeal is a joke, RG gets to decide if his own penalty is correct or not! Who the heck is watching over these theifs anyway.
I wouldn't be suprised to see one of these end up in court eventually. 25K would cover allot of legal fees!
Posted by: Tevon Austin | October 16, 2009 1:39 PM
If Ochosucko could learn to buckle his helmet properly and it didn't come flying off there would be no penalty, no fine and a Ravens win.
Posted by: Wojo | October 16, 2009 2:16 PM
I think the Ravens are unfairly picked on by the officials to a certain extent. It probably started when the Colts left town. The city should have come to an agreement with the league to not allow the name and colors to leave here. Instead we were overly aggressive about trying to keep the team here which wasnt going to work no matter what anyway. If our team was still called the Colts it may be different. The Ravens are seen as being a rough and tough defensive team. Mr Lewis is a major reason for that. But I feel that the fine is ridiculous.
Posted by: Clay | October 16, 2009 2:25 PM
you can not launch yourself at a helpless( up in the air ) receiver and Ray knows that but wanted to punish loudmouth
Selfish play by Ray
Posted by: larry g | October 16, 2009 2:31 PM
Clearly Ray was out to maim and the fine should have been $50,000 and a one game suspension. When a helmet flys off like that, it was from another helmet hitting it.
Posted by: dave | October 16, 2009 3:15 PM
@ Steveg85321
The $1M is his base salary but you might as well say he made $10M this year (including bonuses) from his contract. Of course you have to add endorsements, subtract commission, etc to get what he *really* made this year.
Jamison--
Do they really only get 17 paychecks?
Posted by: Shucker | October 16, 2009 3:27 PM
Dave:
Where are you from, Cincinnati?
Posted by: Deke | October 16, 2009 3:49 PM
To Deke:
No, Deke, I am a Steelers fan who bought two season tickets to the Canadian team when the Colts left town and then paid PSL money for two Ravens tickets so I could come to the games and be spit on by Ravens fans and get all the other abuse you guys could get away with in mob town.
Posted by: dave | October 16, 2009 5:16 PM
Keep crying Dave. I feel really sorry for you.
Posted by: Fan | October 17, 2009 10:54 AM
Please tell me Ray lost his mind for 2 seconds. I can buy that. It happens in the field of battle. That illegal hit not only cost us the game, the division lead, our dignity, and all that Harbaugh has done to bring good tough intergerity laced football back to Baltimore, Really no excuse for it. Ray lost his mind for 2 seconds. It's a shame but true.
Posted by: Rich | October 17, 2009 1:17 PM
The worst thing Harbaugh can do it back Lewis on his illegal hit. It was a poor foul and needed to be called. Unlike the Pats game when the refs put egg on the face of the league with their letting of Brady tell them when to throw a flag. Harbaugh needs to know when to hold em and when to fold em. Otherwise he'll be known as a whinner. We don't need that. We've got enough problems with the refs now.
Posted by: Rich | October 17, 2009 1:28 PM