Joe Soriano
O.J. LewisNFL fines Haslett, Light and Crowder.
In the NFL, your mouth gets you in a lot more trouble than your fists. Just ask St. Louis Rams Head Coach Jim Haslett, who was fined $20,000 for walking onto the field and directing profanities towards an NFL official in the 3rd Quarter of the Rams 35-16 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers during Week 11 of the NFL Season. Matt Light of the Patriots and Channing Crowder of the Miami Dolphins, on the other hand, were fined $15,000, but not suspended, by the league as a result of their ugly altercation in the 4th Quarter of the game between the Patriots and the Dolphins, which the Patriots won 48-28. The incident occurred as Light was blocking Crowder on a 30 yard field goal during the 4th Quarter. Light apparently blocked Crowder a little harder than Crowder felt appropriate for a thirty yard field goal, which resulted in Crowder losing his hat. Crowder took offense and attacked Light. Light responded by grabbing Crowder by his dread locks and delivering three blows to his head. Both received personal foul penalties and were thrown out. Neither player seemed too disturbed at the time, with Light smiling as he walked off and Crowder trying to stir the crowd to cheer as he exited the field. They were probably not cheering when they got their fines, but at least they did not get suspended; and they learned the important lesson that in the NFL it is cheaper to settle things with your fists than with your mouth.
