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John Henderson Takes 10 Jaguars Down With Him
In case you missed the Bengals game, John Henderson took on Cincinnati Bengals’ Guard, Andrew Whitworth.
They were both ejected from the game and as he left, Big John blew a kiss at the crowd. This stirred up some problems in the meeting room and was one of many events that led Coach Jack Del Rio to crack down on fun. The NFL fined Henderson 15,000 dollars for the fight. It seems like it would stop at that, doesn’t it?
Well, the NFL earns the nickname “No Fun League” this time. The league is looking into fining the other Jaguars who were trying to break up the fight. It is basically looking into fining all of the Jaguars defensive guys on the field at the time. Many of them were trying to break up the fight, as you can see in that youtube video. However, being in the area at the time can subject you to a fine.
Paul Spicer doesn’t agree with that verdict:
“There’s a big difference if you are actively involved or if you are breaking it up,” said Spicer, who contends he was restoring order. “You can’t go off and say you’re going to fine everybody.”
“There are a lot of guys in the area and one [Whitworth] has no helmet on. I grabbed John to take him to the sideline. What if the guy without the helmet got head-butted? And they say they’re going to fine everybody? That’s ridiculous, it’s wrong and they need to revamp that rule.”
Spicer has a point, I think. Spicer, Brian Williams, Reggie Nelson, Gerald Sensabaugh, Rashean Mathis, Daryl Smith, Derrick Harvey and Rob Meier are all facing fines. Mathis doesn’t even come over to the area until after the fight has been broken up.
I don’t know the extent of the fine or if the Bengals involved are facing fines as well (one would have to assume they are). Fights are rare in the NFL and I guess the threat of a fine keeps most players away. Good thing Harvey got that loaded contract, huh?
This is really interesting. I’ve never quite looked at the NFL rule book like this. If the rest of the 10 get fined, the stuff will hit the fan, in my opinion.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pmif you look at the video with more attention you can see that henderson doesn’t really punch. However another player does it pretty roughly! but seriously, there’s not a lot of fight in the NFL and I don’t think it should be such a big deal. I play rugby and it is way more common and kind of part of the fun! I actually enjoy that part of the Bengals/Jags game!
November 11th, 2008 at 11:52 pmI couldn’t decide if Henderson was gouging out his eyes or holding onto his face with his giant hands. It wasn’t appropriate, especially because there wasn’t a helmet on the Bengals guy. However, I am obviously bias but it just looks like it was the fault of both men, not just Henderson. Something HAD to trigger it, right? Also, I can completely understand why something like that would happen in a game like football and I am honestly surprised it doesn’t happen more often.
Rugby is an intense game. I know several people who played it at my university and they were awesome guys. The were HUGE and look like typical jock types but they were super smart. I have a high opinion of Rugby players because of them.
DJ, I agree. They were obviously trying to break up the fight because those tiny refs wouldn’t be able to take on the giant linemen. But Del Rio said that the men knew that the cost of going over there would be a fine. I am sure they can appeal it. I know Whitworth is appealing his fine right now.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:58 amRidiculous — and I said as much over on stripehype. Yes, every Bengal on the field except for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick got fined. I’m surprised the league front office hasn’t sent fine notices out to all the fans sitting at field level. After all, weren’t they “in the area of the fight” too? Roger Goodell: Worst. Commissioner. Ever.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pmYeah, I looked it up later last night. 18 players total got fined for the event. And, like I said, Rashean Mathis just ran over to the fight in that shot. I can’t even SEE 10 Bengals in that shot.
It really shouldn’t have happened but seriously there was no way 18 guys were involved.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:45 pm