Bengals Chris Crocker, Dan Skuta Receive NFL Fine Letters For Illegal Hits In Rams Game

by Jason Garrison on Dec 21, 2011 2:06 PM EST in Penalties

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis listens to Chris Crocker #42 as he waits to talk to an official during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on November 13, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Steelers won 24-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy, both Bengals safety Chris Crocker and backup middle linebacker Dan Skuta have received a nice little early Christmas present from the NFL -- fine letters. Both players are to be fined for illegal hits they made on Rams players in Week 15 when the Bengals beat St. Louis 20-13.

Crocker's fine came along with a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer in which he struck Kellen Clemens helmet-to-helmet. Skuta's fine is from a block, in which he also struck a Rams player helmet-to-helmet, on a punt return. The Bengals were not penalized for Skuta's illegal hit, though.

There have been a handful of fines against Bengals players in 2011 but they haven't accumulated nearly as many as some other teams or even other players. Steelers linebacker James Harrison may have had to pay more money to the NFL for fines than the entire Bengals team.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wait no fine for Feneane? but 1 for Skuta?

im confused

by Bengalsfan024 on Dec 21, 2011 2:13 PM EST reply actions

I didn't even notice the hit by Skuta

But there were a couple more helmet to helmet hits on Clemens last week if I remember right. Only the one on Crocker got called though.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Dec 21, 2011 2:17 PM EST reply actions

Dierdorf was calling everything a helmet to helmet hit

Lots of them weren’t. If I remember right there were only 1 or 2 actual helmet to helmet hits and at least 3 others where the helmets came within 4 or 5 inches of each other but didn’t hit.

by indesignkat on Dec 21, 2011 2:24 PM EST reply actions

yeah Fenene's was fine-worthy

but I’ll take the sack,,,,and pay the money later

by ticalcaldwell on Dec 21, 2011 2:34 PM EST reply actions

i mean how do they miss that one but find one by skuta no one else saw?

by Bengalsfan024 on Dec 21, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions

Skuta only makes about 50,000 per year.

He is broke now

by Hoke Hogan on Dec 21, 2011 3:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I couldn’t really see how fanene could avoid hitting his helmet on clemens…crockers was obviously avoidable but there is no way the NFL should fine Fanene’s.

by Josh Hinson on Dec 21, 2011 3:38 PM EST reply actions

totally agree

Faneane hit Clemons right as he was getting off his block and didn’t have time to adjust.
Crocker had a free lane and still jumped to hit his head.
Football is a collision sport, and you can’t easily take plays like Faneane’s sack out of the game but, plays like Crocker’s and especially James Harrison’s McCoys hit can and should be avoided, and punished if not.

by R.F. Mehl on Dec 21, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

In Crocker's defense ( I can't believe I just said that ), it looked like he was trying to go for the ball when he jumped.

It was still a dumb move and ended up costing us (and him), but, it looked to me as if he was trying to make a big play with a strip sack and got too excited. The right call was made.

"When you see it open up and all you can see is the end zone, it’s hard to describe how relieving it feels." -Ced Benson

by ItsAlwaysSunnyInDayton on Dec 22, 2011 8:31 AM EST up reply actions

Player fine fund

They should have some kind of fund or pot to help players pay some of these. Don’t get me wrong I know some of these guys make millions but some don’t. Like Skuta he’s trying to make a name for himself and earn a bigger roll on this defense and I don’t want him or anyother Bengal pulling up because their afraid of getting fined. Coaches can preach technic all day but sometimes it’s just going to happen. Personally I love the hits, I’m not condoning permanent injury but knocking another teams player into tomorrow is apart of the game.

by Bigcatdaddy on Dec 21, 2011 4:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions