Steelers’ Polamalu Fined $10k for Calling Wife From Sideline After Possible Concussion
- Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:10pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro Safety Troy Polamalu has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for using a trainer‘s cell phone to call his wife to inform her that he was doing fine after leaving last Sunday’s game with concussion-like symptoms.
ESPN writes that “possession of cell phones in the bench area during a game is prohibited beginning 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game.”
Given Polamalu’s medical history and the extent of the fine, the NFL’s decision has drawn criticism from fans, coaches and columnists.
“It wasn’t a personal call. He wasn’t checking on his bank account,” said Polamalu’s coach Mike Tomlin to ESPN Tuesday. “He was talking to his wife to let her know that he was fine.”
Chris Chase for Yahoo Sports wrote Friday:
“He wasn’t pumping in Kanye on his iPod or plugging Head & Shoulders or drawing attention to himself like Joe Horn or tweeting to fans about the game. Polamalu called his wife to let her know that he didn’t suffer a potentially life-altering injury.
The NFL likes to hide behind its rules, as if they’re immovable decrees set up on high rather than arbitrary regulations written by the league itself every offseason. It‘s easier to fine Polamalu and insincerely claim ’our hands are tied’ rather than view every situation separately and judge them on their merits.”
After leaving the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, the team called the injury a “very mild” concussion, and Polamalu was removed as a precaution. Polamalu was fined $15,000 earlier this season for making a horse-collar tackle.
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Comments (87)
ares338
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 2:17amYup…..seems a litle bit excessive to me but I still think he will be OK financially without all of us having to pitch in.
Report Post »GMP
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 8:39amAre you saying it’s not time to Occupy the NFL..?
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 9:36amone guy that gives 100% all the time. Who ever made this decision is an idiot. Troy has been great for the game, if it is a rule, maybe a warning would have been warranted
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:08amI’m already boycotting the NFL for letting TSA grope their fans.
BOYCOTT THE NFL!!!
Report Post »theaveng
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:40amDidn’t they fine the Wrong person? It should be the guy who carried-in the cellphone who should be fined — the trainer is the one who broke the rule
Report Post ».
black9897
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 2:08pmSigh. The NFL ****** me off. Love Football and the NFL, but they come up and have some of the dumbest rules I’ve ever heard of. Geez…do these ppl not think?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:56amWhat a nice thing to do-just like a normal person, when you are injured you want to talk to those who love you…
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 2:35amI agree and bet it was worth every penny he had to pay. God bless having your priorities straight.
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:40amAgree, Gramma. He wasn’t doing this for himself…he was doing it to ease his wife’s mind. Sure, the fine won’t make them miss their next meal but the whole thing is disgusting. It wasn’t even his phone…it was his trainer’s.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:50amI believe this stems from how new technology can be used to receive and send info about plays about to be run.
Sort of has to be an all or nothing policy. Can’t risk them calling bookies, agents, doing interviews and so on…and since proving who and why they called would be hard pressed to be proven –if precautions were taken– they could always just point back and say “See, you did nothing to this guy!” …because it was using a cellphone and communicating during a game that is at issue…NOT the reason behind the call.
Report Post »ChevalierdeJohnstone
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 11:09pmOr we could just expect adults not to cheat. That would be a novel concept, wouldn’t it? Grown men getting paid millions of dollars to play a game some people find entertaining to watch – and there have to be rules to prevent them from blatantly cheating. How about if the NFL just replaces all of its sideline rules with “Don’t Cheat”. We used to be able to figure this out in pick-up games in the fourth grade, but the NFL, apparently, cannot.
Report Post »Dear America, you’re going to hell. Here’s a clue why: see above.
lukerw
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:47amZero Tolerance = Zero Brains!
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:45pmAmen.
Report Post »I first saw this story on Yahoo! and there was no shortage of the “Rules are rules!” crowd. As an aside, I suspect these folks are also members of the “I was just following orders!” club.
I generally expect us all to abide by the same rules and regulations, but a culture that can’t engage in discretion indicates a love of the system over humanity and an embrace of some combination of stupidity and cowardice.
Hope the dude is okay. Hmm… who looks like the bigger turd when all is said and done? The player or his taskmasters?
peaches1
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:42amSounds really unfair to me. Give the guy the money back.
Report Post »bookofdaniel
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:23amIf it was an astablished rule then he got what he deserved. Period!
Report Post »bookofdaniel
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:27amI meant “established”
Report Post »jblaze
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 9:08amBOOKOFDANIEL
Agreed. Rules are rules! If you are smart you can easily come up with some innovative way to get a message to your wife from the sidelines without using a cell phone! Heck by just playing the game and staying in it shows you are ok! The distraction of calling you wife during the game in itself seems a bit strange. I remember when Wayne Gretskyz’s wife got hit while watching a game and he continued playing the game because of the rules and he took a lot of criticism because of it!
Report Post »Michael
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:35amthings like this are why I don’t waste my time with the NFL
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:40amNFL Execs aka PC PANSIES have ruined the game. THEY need to clean house. I’m so sick of their sicko/PC rules and their heavy handedness…it’s not a fun game to watch any more – with the exception of TIM TEBOW, DREW BREEZE and Aaron Rodgers… to name a handful of great athletes who make the game fun..the rest of it is about as dopey as whats his name, what‘s her name’s husband who is obviously inept and has taken a great sport and politicized it.
Report Post »The BRAIN
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:44amExactly!! …and College ball is headed that direction. So sad.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 4:27amBingo!
Report Post »Soulman45
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:26amIt should have been some way to get around the fine.
Report Post »US-First
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:14amWho cares! This guy makes more money than most of us will ever see in several lifetimes. This fight is between him and the NFL. Why should fans be involved? Why should media be involved? Here is the best part. He gets to write that 10k fine off as a loss in his taxes. It is part of doing business in his line of work.
Report Post »joe magarac
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:14amGodell never misses a chance to screw a Steeler.
If Polamalu was wearing a Patriots jersey, Goodouche would have kissed him on the lips as is his norm.
Goodouche has ruined the NFL turning it into a Pansy League.
Report Post »CHRISBOLT123
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:08amMore political correctness from the NFL. After the tragic shooting death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor in his Miami home the NFL came out with its anti-gun statement and how guns have no place with NFL players. Had Taylor owned a gun he might have been able to defend himeself from the dirtbag who broke into his house and murdered a very talanted young man and new father…instead he had to try to defend himself with a machete. Political Correctness will get you killed everytime.
Report Post »Once-a-cop...
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:05amHe had a concussion..even a mild one…claim “diminished capacity” and he didn’t know what he was doing. If he couldn‘t perform because his brains were scrambled he shouldn’t be held accountable for his actions. It’s good enough for killers, rapists, muggers, burglars, pedophiles…it should be good enough for the NFL.
Report Post »revel222
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:11amI agree. He shouldn’t be held accountable for this. Other than the obvious concussion issue, where is the compassion for the seriousness of the situation and his family concern for him. It is completely ridiculous.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:31amHe should not lie. He did nothing wrong, he is not a burglar or murderer and should not cast his lot with them.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 8:39amIf there aren’t supposed to be phones on the field, how did he borrow a trainer’s phone? The trainer should be fined. They’re probably just mad because he showed preference to a marriage to a woman…..
Report Post »CHRISBOLT123
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:03amThe NFL is all about political correctness. Joey Porter got in trouble and was fined for calling another player a *** but that big fat slob Anthony Siragusa when playing for the Ravens (jokingly) said Raven fans should take care of business in the restrooms because there are not cameras in the restrooms when he was asked about Steeler fans attending a Raven Steelers game in Baltimore.
Report Post »CHRISBOLT123
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:55pmRoger Goodell HATES the Steelers….. FACT!
Report Post »farming2feedtheworld
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:09amSometimes I think Roger Goodell hates all NFL players, he acts as if he is God not comissioner of the NFL.
Report Post »Steev
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:45pmI’m a pretty big one for rules, there’s always lines that can be easilly blurred – and you end up making judgement calls, to one man your bending a rule but to another your breaking that rule, before you know it, petty egos get upset and eventually confusion will ensue with the accusation that favortisim is being shown. But in all honesty charging $10,000 to be able to put his wife fears to rest is pretty darned cold & heartless, Actually, the amount is irrelevant 10,000 dollars – 1,000,000 dollars – 10 dollars is just plain mean.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:22pmPerhaps this is why I never watch professional football; a bunch of freaking yahoo’s.
Report Post »brian8793
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:47pmThat is a fair and reasonable law, and that is a fair and reasonable fine. Hope it goes to charity!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:44pmZero tolerance = zero brains
Just like the school system .. no common sense.
TEA!
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:44pmHEY!!! No making fun of Polamalu on my watch!!! >:0 He is absolutely “The Man”!
I always liked him for his energetic, pedal-to-the-metal style of play! He really gave me someone to cheer for after loosing Jerome Bettis to retirement on the Steelers! But then I learned that he was the total package! Great athelete; great husband, great father, and very dedicated to his God.
And, (don’t you know), he confirmed my admiration for him even in breaking the “rules”! What a CLASS ACT!!!
Report Post »cous1933
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 7:41pmI agree. I have been a dedicated Steelers fan since 1970 and Polamalu is the classiest football player I’ve ever seen (not to mention one of the best athletes).
Report Post »cobra two
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:42pmIts a good thing he wasn’t on the phone ordering a pizza. They would probably ban him from Papa Johns for doing that. The NFL has gone in the crapper.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:38pmSeeing as how he was no longer a contestant, I think the fine was misdirected! The trainer that supplied the phone should have been fined $100 for a rule violation (wasn’t it the trainer that brought the phone onto the field?) and in making the phone available to a player! The coaches and team should have received a reminder (not a scolding) for permitting the situation to occur while on the field!
Report Post »wellhangingchad
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:34pmI will wear his jersey with pride tomorrow! Go Steelers!
Report Post »billypol
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:28pmThis is an example of the WHOLE of society right now. Every company, every school, and every city are approaching EVERYTHING with a “rules are rules” mentality and use absolutely no reasonable discretion in the enforcement of these rules or policies. I guess since the policies are put in place by “those on high”, the underlings have no choice other than to enforce them.
Report Post »Before anybody asks “why not enforce…?” on the OWS group- Have the owners of the park asked that the people be removed for trespassing?.
the hawk
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:40pmThis is like giving me a speading ticket for 2 $………………
Report Post »toto
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:25pmThis is just another of many examples of rules without common sense. Why is it that you can do so many illegal things with impunity, but you can’t call your wife to say you are okay without sanction. We need to take our country back and tell regulators where they can shove it. Common sense needs to rule again. We all need to fight this and speak up. Please be advised that this is progressive thought and behavior control and it only works if you buy into it.
Report Post »anunyapete
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:22pmTroy — My advice — Pay the fine.
Then have your agent call the cell phone service provider you used, make a slew of commercials (with comical anti-NFL jabs) and make back millions more than you paid in fines…
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:37pmYep! That is what I would do.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:40pmExcellent!
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:14pmDID he call his mommy next ?
Report Post »Lateris
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:26pmReally Richard? Really?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:45pmI would hope so .. or asked his wife to do so …. geez.
Report Post »CHRISBOLT123
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:52pmThis joker must be a Ravens or Browns fan.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 4:52am@CatB… You forget your proverbial “ TEA ” While attacking me for being facetious.. Can tell the difference from a joke and reality I see…
TEA !!
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