Bernard Pollard Fined $40,000 For Unnecessary Roughness

NEW YORK — Houston Texans safety Bernard Pollard was fined $40,000 by the NFL on Friday for unnecessary roughness against Justin Gage of the Tennessee Titans.

Pollard was fined for striking Gage in the head area Sunday when the Titans receiver was defenseless. The amount of the fine was so hefty because Pollard is a repeat offender; he was fined $5,000 earlier this season for a hit against Kansas City.

On Monday, the league fined Texans receiver Andre Johnson and Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan $25,000 apiece for their fight.

Arizona Cardinals tackle Jeremy Bridges was fined $20,000 for unnecessary roughness, his fifth such infraction since 2009. He hit 49ers LB Takeo Spikes after Spikes' interception.

Teammate Clark Haggans, a linebacker, was docked $10,000 for unnecessary roughness on a third-quarter running play for striking an opponent in the head and neck area with his helmet.

Packers linebacker Matt Wilhelm was fined $5,000 for a major facemask against kickoff returner Eric Weems of Atlanta. That penalty helped set up the winning field goal for the Falcons on Sunday.

Baltimore offensive tackle Michael Oher was fined $5,000 for violating the league's social media policy by tweeting during the team's win over Tampa Bay. He posted an update on his Twitter account about his sprained right knee.

Comments

[Fredday]

11:43 AM on 12/06/2010

Yet Jameel McClain hasn't been fined (or even flagged) for the vicious hit on Steelers Miller.

Go figure.

[Chubbster]

09:43 AM on 12/06/2010

What a quintessential American in an American sport: Violent to the core.

[Puzzlr]

12:52 AM on 12/06/2010

The NFL should just come out and say that certain players will get fines and other players won't. Seems to be such smoke and mirrors meant to ease the mind of the casual fan (and perhaps us women). "See we are trying to clean things up" All the while showing 'the fight' on NFL Network from multiple angles, multiple times and with hilarious commentary.

[tb philly]

12:59 AM on 12/06/2010

Sorry I didnt use the exact number and I didnt get the "halves" right. I must have amde a good point if thats all you can critique me on.

[Puzzlr]

01:07 AM on 12/06/2010

I think you meant for this go somewhere else. ;-)

[Brandonc163]

06:11 PM on 12/04/2010

I still don't think it's enough

[kkdkdkdkdk]

04:00 PM on 12/04/2010

Still not enough. Suspend them for several games. That will get pressure on them from teammates and fans as well as them. and after three infractions you're through for the season. and if they come back and repeat the next year they are banned from football for life. That will stop the majority of the head to head hits and unnecessary roughness. Get the thugs out of the game. And drop their salaries, all salaries to a decent wage rather than tens of millions that make these guys impervious to fines. Hell fire.

[Luke Thompson]

07:25 PM on 12/05/2010

I'm just wondering...Do you watch the NFL? Do you understand the game at all? They aren't thugs, they are doing what they are supposed to do. About half of the fines are made up "defenseless receiver" calls. Not even helmet to helmet. If you don't want to get hit, don't come across the middle. You should tell coaches to stop putting their receivers on these dangerous routes instead..

[Puller58]

07:28 AM on 12/04/2010

Pollard hasn't brought much to the Texans which explains why the Chiefs cut him loose.  The entire secondary is lost and despite the Tennessee game, they aren't likely to get any better in the near future.  Two rookies at CB?  Bad idea.

[Puzzlr]

12:46 AM on 12/06/2010

What really chaps is that they aren't even trying to teach those guys. Its like, "get out there and do whatever". And yes, I still love my Texans.

[atmeratus x]

12:23 AM on 12/04/2010

tried to watch sunday... 5 plays 4 penalties... done

i miss nascar already

[farmilyman]

10:49 PM on 12/03/2010

They should use rubber helmets.

[FZliveson]

07:27 PM on 12/03/2010

I'm about done with the NFL.
The Forty Niners' coach and ownership seem quite content just going through the motions to collect television and merchandise profits.

The officiating has gotten really lame.

Refs are being ultra conservative with these "unnecessary roughness" penalties

The NFL levies fines that go to their slush funds (I suppose) with no revealed benefit to the disabled players, upon whose backs the whole NFL thing profits.

There seems to be a strike looming for next year.

Too bad. It was once a really enjoyable sport to watch and root for. Today, especially in San Francisco, it is a chore not worth the time and consciousness.

[NatTurner1]

09:00 PM on 12/03/2010

I think San Fran has done great by adding Troy Smith as starting QB. They are 2 and 1. I think his play and development will carry them far. Smith and a healthy Gore with some better DBs next year and they will challenge a lot of teams.

[FZliveson]

10:43 PM on 12/03/2010

Thanks for the encouraging words. But if the Yorks do not get an intelligent General Manager and fire Singletary, it will be more of the same but with the stands half empty of fully empty during the proposed strike.
Cheers,
FZLO

[Puller58]

07:29 AM on 12/04/2010

You should remember that expansion and the proposed 18 game schedule will only water down an already talent thin league.  It can only get worse.  :(

[FZliveson]

09:17 AM on 12/04/2010

Trust me; if you go to www.sfgate.com and read what the locals are saying about the coach and owners you'll see that things can only get better for fans here. Singletary sucks bigtime and the York family are fully behind this clown.