The National Football League has fined Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith $21,855 for “impermissible use of helmet” during a Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The hit occurred in the first quarter when Smith popped Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer on a three-yard gain. Smith wasn’t flagged on the play but the Chargers drove down the field and scored on Justin Herbert’s three-yard touchdown pass to Donald Parham Jr.
#Vikings S Harrison Smith was fined $21,855 for what the NFL said was unnecessary roughness on this hit last Sunday. Amount corresponds to first offense of impermissible use of helmet, aka the "helmet rule." Wasn't penalized in the game, but NFL aggressively issues fines for it. pic.twitter.com/WsNWODWBTu
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 30, 2023
This is Smith’s first infraction for the rule, which the NFL has attempted to crack down with larger fines for first-time offenders. But earlier this week, Smith criticized the NFL for how they issue fines and enforce the rules on the field in an interview with the Star Tribune’s Mark Craig.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was the main subject of the conversation after he was fined $35,513 for three face mask violations during a Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Obviously if the facemask is egregious, like the two Deshaun Watson had against Pittsburgh, they call it,” Smith told Craig. “But basically, [the offense] can facemask us on every play as long as they don’t grab it. But if we graze theirs, that’s a penalty and a 10-, 15-grand fine. They should be totally transparent on the total amount of money they’ve taken from defensive players compared to offensive players over the past 10, 15 years.”
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was also fined $48,333 after an illegal use of helmet penalty in the same Browns-Steelers game. Like Smith’s play against the Chargers, Warren was not flagged for the hit.
The NFL fined #Steelers RB Jaylen Warren $48,333 for illegal use of helmet in last week’s win over the #Browns.
Here’s the play … which didn’t draw a flag. pic.twitter.com/DA2f35G9tx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2023
According to league data, defensive players have accounted for 67% of the fines issued this season and 76.4% of fines were issued to defensive players in Week 3.
Smith and the Vikings (0-3) will take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
