Seahawks' Richardson fined, calls it 'extortion'
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Brady HendersonESPN
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he plans to appeal an $18,231 fine for a hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton.
“It’s extortion,” Richardson said.
The hit in question occurred in the first quarter of Seattle’s 22-16 win on Nov. 9. Richardson said he was pushed in the back by a Cardinals offensive lineman and that he tried to let up before hitting Stanton’s legs, which drew a penalty for roughing the passer.
Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert will start against the Texans on Sunday, with injured Drew Stanton serving as the backup, if he can.
As a result of a hit he took from Karlos Dansby in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Arizona Cardinals last week, quarterback Russell Wilson said he needed to have his jaw realigned. Dansby was fined $18,231 by the NFL.
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“There is no way you should be taking any of my money because it wasn’t a dirty hit,” Richardson said, according to the Seattle Times. “I didn’t try to hit him in the legs or nothing and once again people fail to realize it’s still football. Pretty sure they are just fining guys for every personal foul and not even looking at the film and not even making the consideration of did I try to avoid the guy.”
Richardson added that avoiding quarterbacks “is not why we get paid,” according to the Times.
“You don’t get paid for your fantasy football ratings. We get paid to make plays. That’s another sack missed,” he said.
Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby was also fined $18,231 for a hit on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in that game.
