Wallace fined for hit on Simms

Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Al Wallace was fined $7,500 by the NFL for his hit on Chris Simms in the Panthers' 26-24 win Sunday.

Bucs coaches believe that hit, which occurred late in the fourth quarter, may have caused Simms' spleen to rupture. Simms was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital after the game where his spleen was removed.

The league cited Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12(2) of the NFL Official Playing Rules: "A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating and punishing acts as 'stuffing' a passer into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball, even if the rusher makes his initial contact within the one-step limitation … When tackling a passer who is virtually in a defenseless posture (e.g. during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily and violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender's weight. Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up or cradle the passer with the defensive player's arms."

There was no penalty called on the play, but in fining Wallace the league agreed with the Bucs that the hit was illegal and should have resulted in a roughing the passer penalty.

Also Friday, it was revealed Bucs safety Will Allen was fined $5,000 for taunting against the Panthers. Allen was called for a taunting penalty during the game.

— RICK STROUD, Times staff writer

Times photo by James Borchuck; click to enlarge

Comments

[John]

Buffalo Chips! I like Chris Simms as much as the next guy, but this fine is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to his injury and subsequent operation. There was no roughing penalty called on the field, football is a violent sport and at that time Simms was the guy with ball – fair game for a hit intended to stop or disrupt that pass. Political correctness run amok.

[Shawn]

That rule is so overated, and he really shouldn't be fined at all. That was a legal hit and I saw nothing worng with it at all. Tampa Bay sucks!

GO PANTHERS! :)

[Laura]

these poor panther fans have to defend the hit because they barely beat a quaterback with a ruptured spleen.

GO BUCS!!

[Rodd]

Let's be real Panther fans.. everyone knows if Delhomme gets hit or sacked he is the first one off the ground crying to the referees like a girl..he hit me he hit me!!!!

[w]

First - Go Bucs
Second - Clean hit sorry to see the injury but if Rice had made the hit I would have been proud

[Michael Alexander]

Kill the quarterback is a refrain heard all over the country's gladiator colliseums. Too bad it happened to our guy.