The Cincinnati Bengals snagged a solid 33-27 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the losing side. Bucs safety Tykee Smith is now under the microscope for a late hit on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and the NFL is about to drop its decision on potential punishment. This isn’t just about a flag on the field, folks; Smith could be looking at a significant fine from the league.
This whole thing went down near the end of the second quarter. The Bengals were on a fantastic drive that ultimately scored them a field goal, pushing their lead to a 14-point advantage going into halftime. But during that drive, Burrow took a hit from Smith. The officials saw it, no doubt, and promptly flagged Smith for unnecessary roughness. That call was for a late hit, a clear violation, but the league isn’t stopping there.
The NFL’s official rulebook has specific fines for these kinds of actions. A first offense for a late hit can cost a player $11,941. But it gets worse. If the hit is deemed an “Impermissible Use of the Helmet/Launching,” that fine rockets up to $23,882 for a first offense. The league’s stance is pretty clear on this stuff, stating their rules are “intended to protect the players from unnecessary risk, promote player safety and emphasize sportsmanship and respect of teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and fans.” It’s all about keeping guys safe out there.
We’re expecting the NFL to announce their decision on Smith this coming Saturday, September 19th. The league typically hands out these punishments and fines the Saturday after games wrap up. It’s going to be a tough waiting game for Smith and the Buccaneers, especially after already taking the loss to Burrow and the Bengals.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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