According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer has been fined $21,000 for delivering a blow to Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte while using the top/crown of his helmet outside tackle box in the loss Sunday night.
The play in question happened in the second quarter on second down with 4:02 left in the half. Dwyer was completing a 25-yard run when he lowered his head and hit Conte while he was attempting to make the tackle.
While Dwyer was not penalized for the hit on the play, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth noted it as being an “interesting no-call” during the television broadcast.
The rule, which was just put into place this season, stipulates that a ballcarrier cannot use the crown of his helmet to deliver a forcible blow to a defender if he is outside the tackle box and 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
When you look at the animated gif of the play below, you can see that the Steelers should have been called for a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
Dwyer is now the second running back in as many weeks to fined under the new rule. Last week, Tennessee Titans running back Jackie Battle was fined $21,000 by the league for lowering his head into Houston Texans defensive back Danieal Manning in week two.
