Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie received a fine of $21,000 from the NFL on Friday for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in the preseason game between the teams on Aug. 9.
Rodgers-Cromartie was penalized with a 15-yard flag for unnecessary roughness on the play and extended the Steelers' drive in the second quarter. The Steelers scored a touchdown on the drive but the Eagles won, 24-23. Rodgers-Cromartie felt that the hit (see below) was a clean one.
The $21,000 fine (a five-percent increase from 2011) was the minimum the league could hand out under the terms of the CBA. Although he leads with his shoulder and not his helmet, Rodgers-Cromartie clearly leaves his feet to strike Leftwich on the play.
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