NFL Fines Cardinals’ Cecil $30,000 for Hard Hits on Redskin Players

Chuck Cecil of the Phoenix Cardinals was fined $30,000 on Monday, the largest non-suspension fine by the NFL in league history.

Cecil, a safety who has appeals pending on $14,500 in other fines, said he would appeal the new fine for flagrant use of his helmet against two Washington Redskins players in a Sept. 12 game. He said hits on running back Ricky Ervins and tight end Ron Middleton were within the rules. No penalties were called.

But Bill Polian, the NFL’s vice president for football development, cited “two acts of flagrant unnecessary roughness.” He said the size of the fine reflected Cecil’s past conduct.

“Some guy back back East is sitting there watching it in ‘super slo-mo,’ and he decides it’s illegal, and they’ve got a whole crew of officials on the field and nobody throws a flag,” Cecil said.

Cecil said he had been asked to be in Chicago today for a hearing on his appeal of a pair of $3,500 fines assessed last year, when he played for Green Bay. He said the NFL told him Monday the hearing was postponed.

Cecil was also fined $7,500 for using the top of his helmet on Chicago’s Anthony Morgan in an exhibition game Aug. 14.