Minnesota Vikings linebacker Antwione Williams says he was fined by the NFL for his roughing the passer penalty against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
https://twitter.com/twanyouafool/status/1032643855869390849
You might recall the play during last week’s preseason game against the Jaguars as the one that sparked nationwide conversation about how confusing the league’s new safety rules are.
Garbage u got fined. Ripped off that a penalty was called. The official closest to the play didn’t even throw a flag. https://t.co/fcjAcaCp6Q
— Paul Allen (@PAOnTheMic) August 24, 2018
Referees flagged Williams for using the brunt of his body weight to slam the quarterback into the turf, but anyone who’s seen the replay seems convinced that it was a textbook tackle.
Roughing the passer!! Welcome to 2018. pic.twitter.com/oIIrVplQAO
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) August 18, 2018
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was furious when it was called, although he later redacted his anger and said the penalty fits within the new safety guidelines.
Then again, Zimmer is also on record saying he believes the new rules, which includes a crackdown on players leading with their helmets, will cost teams games, and ultimately result in players and coaches losing their jobs.
“It is going to happen. Without a doubt, that is going to happen,” safety Harrison Smith said, agreeing with Zimmer. “If you get a big sack, that changes field position, that changes, maybe getting a guy out of field goal range, get them on third-and-long or something like that, or get off the field on third down. Then it’s a whole new set of downs. It is going to change games.”
The Vikings host the Seahawks in a preseason game Friday night, and all eyes will be watching what’s called a penalty and what isn’t.
