Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers starting QB, was shoved in the face by Oakland Raiders defensive back Richard Seymour on Sunday as the Raiders were getting blown out, prompting the NFL to fine Seymour $25,000, according to NFL Network.
Seymour hit Roethlisberger with an open-hand strike in the helmet. He was ejected from the game, and after the game, he apologized to his team for his actions.
“I apologize to my teammates,” Seymour said, according to the Washington Post. “I never want to do anything to hurt the team. You always want to protect yourself, but there’s no excuse. ... I’m not sure why he [Roethlisberger] ran up on me. I just turned around and it was a natural reaction.”
Roethlisberger said that when he was going up to Seymour, he told him “let’s get ready for the extra point,” according to the NFL Network.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was fined $75,000 earlier this season for a helmet-to-helmet hit, said that Seymour should have been suspended.
“I don’t see why not,” Harrison told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They’re trying to suspend guys for hits when that’s within the whistles.”
Seymour joined the Raiders in September when the New England Patriots traded him away for a first-round draft pick. Seymour won three Super Bowls and was selected to five Pro Bowls with the Patriots.
Seymour hit Roethlisberger with an open-hand strike in the helmet. He was ejected from the game, and after the game, he apologized to his team for his actions.
“I apologize to my teammates,” Seymour said, according to the Washington Post. “I never want to do anything to hurt the team. You always want to protect yourself, but there’s no excuse. ... I’m not sure why he [Roethlisberger] ran up on me. I just turned around and it was a natural reaction.”
Roethlisberger said that when he was going up to Seymour, he told him “let’s get ready for the extra point,” according to the NFL Network.
Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was fined $75,000 earlier this season for a helmet-to-helmet hit, said that Seymour should have been suspended.
“I don’t see why not,” Harrison told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They’re trying to suspend guys for hits when that’s within the whistles.”
Seymour joined the Raiders in September when the New England Patriots traded him away for a first-round draft pick. Seymour won three Super Bowls and was selected to five Pro Bowls with the Patriots.
