Bengals Expected To Appeal Cedric Peerman's "Illegal Blindside Block" Against The Colts

The Indianapolis Colts started the second half with a punt after a pedestrian one-minute, 22-second possession that resulted in six yards gained and a punt after Curtis Painter failed to convert a third-and-four from the Colts 26-yard line. Pat McAfee punts the football 59 yards, out-kicking his own coverage for Brandon Tate to geek out with plenty of green surrounding him. Tate looked and then ran towards the left sidelines, picking up 33 yards on the punt return, assisted by a punishing block from Cedric Peerman that was deemed legal on the field with no penalties called. The NFL eventually called it illegal and announced that Peerman will be fined $20,000 for an "illegal blindside block". The Cincinnati Bengals aren't willing to just let it go so willingly.

According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, there's an expectation that the Cincinnati Bengals will appeal Peerman's fine. Peerman's "work in that game back on October 16," Hobson writes, " made him the first player in Simmons' nine seasons with the Bengals to get back-to-back game balls for special teams." Peerman also had a critical tackle after Carlos Dunlap's touchdown on the ensuing kickoff that forced the Colts to start from their own 15-yard line. Leon Hall would later intercept Curtis Painter's pass, sealing the win.

As Anthony Cosenza pointed out last week, if Peerman is forced to pay the $20,000, that would be roughly 67% of his game check for that weekend. That's figured if Peerman, who signed as an exclusive-rights free agent, received the similar $480,000 that other ERFAs received.