MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 24: Alex McGough #5 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Antwione Williams #56 of the Minnesota Vikings after scrambling out of the pocket during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 24, 2018 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 21-20. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) The Minnesota Vikings were penalized for a hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback during Week 2 of the NFL preseason and the linebacker has been fined. During Week 2 of the preseason, there were quite a few things to dislike about the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars, but one thing in particular should be ruffling the feather of players, coaches, fans, and football fans. A new rule in place for 2018 sees players getting penalized for driving a player into the ground using their body mass. The Vikings got their first taste of this rule when it was called on linebacker Antwione Williams when sacking Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler. On the play, not only did Williams not intentionally land with his weight on Kessler, but his knee hit and some of his body hit the ground first, helping to minimize the impact of bringing the Jacksonville quarterback to the ground. Despite all that, a flag was drawn on the play for driving the quarterback to the ground. Not only that, but ESPN reports that a fine of $20,054 was handed down for roughing the passer as well. Williams was quick to criticize the penalty, sharing a video of the play on his Twitter account and adding “Really got fined today for this smh” Meanwhile, ESPN also shared a quote from Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer about the penalty, saying it was a close call but he understands why it was a penalty. “After I calmed down a little bit, I looked at it, and [Williams’] head was to the side and he was going to the side,” Zimmer said. “If he would have just rolled, but he kind of pumped him into the turf. I actually think that was a good call.” It’s understandable if fans still haven’t ‘calmed down’ following the call. This was seemingly a routine sack during a game that normally wouldn’t draw any extra attention or definitely not a flag or a fine. The Pioneer Press reportedly spoke with Antwione Willams about the fine. Williams seemed surprised by the amount of the fine as well as the fact that he was fined at all according to the new rule, explaining why it seems excessive. “The rules are still new and everything, but $20,000?” Williams told the Pioneer Press after Minnesota’s 21-20 preseason win over Seattle on Friday night. “I watched it from multiple angles and I didn’t even really land on him with all my weight or any partial of my weight. I just think it’s a little extreme. That (fine) was ridiculous.” Not only was that explanation logical, but it is likely fans of both Minnesota and Jacksonville would agree that there was no ill intent from the sack and handing down a fine to go along with the penalty is a bit much. Williams continued, saying that he will appeal the NFL’s decision to fine him for the play. “I was real surprised,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to get fined. They usually wait until the season starts but, again, it’s just kind of ridiculous. Oh yeah, I’m going to appeal it.” Hopefully, the NFL will review the penalty and see that handing down a fine to the Minnesota Vikings linebacker in this situation is excessive. Antwione Williams has a great case for why he could win his appeal, but this hefty fine serves as a stern warning to players who are looking to make plays.<doc-sep>The NFL's premium on player safety has led to several questionable penalties this preseason, and now it's taking a toll on defensive players' wallets as well. Vikings linebacker Antwione Williams tweeted Friday that he was fined for a roughing the passer penalty, losing $20,054, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Georgia Southern product was flagged for roughing the passer in Minnesota's preseason matchup with Jacksonville on Saturday, penalized for violating the NFL's policy on "stuffing" a quarterback into the ground. But did the league go too far in flagging Williams and subsequently fining him? While there's some confusion over new player safety rules, this fine might be a bit of a stretch. You can watch the play in question here.<doc-sep>NFL players have expressed frustration at a rise in penalty calls this preseason. (AP) The thing about the roughing-the-passer penalty on Minnesota Vikings linebacker Antwione Williams is it was called in the moment. An official can miss something, make a bad call. The game goes fast. So, then, how do you explain that terrible call also getting a $20,000 fine after the NFL had a couple days to review it? Williams complained on Twitter about being fined, and then NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed Williams was fined $20,054. Really got fined today for this 👇🏾 smh https://t.co/bfoXzCtsLI — Antwione Williams (@twanyouafool) August 23, 2018 Let’s forget for a moment that taking $20,000 out of an employee’s check wouldn’t happen in any other reputable profession. It was a penalty that sums up every football fan’s frustration with how the game is being called. A terrible call leads to a fine What Williams did wrong was put his body weight on the quarterback. That became an issue after Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr broke Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone last season. [Yahoo Fantasy Football leagues are open: Sign up now for free] Here’s the hit in question. Let’s be real: It’s a terrible call. Will this "roughing the passer" call go down as the worst penalty of the weekend? #JAXvsMIN | #SKOL 🎥: @NFL pic.twitter.com/VSKPrEGcOp — Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) August 18, 2018 While it’s noble of the NFL to try to improve player safety, it can get out of control sometimes. There have been many complaints about the new helmet rule. The reaction to Williams’ penalty was practically unanimous: It was terrible. You can ask 100 football fans, executives, players, coaches, and they’ll all say that’s a normal football play. Story continues But the NFL decided that was worth stealing $20,000 from a young player, for a hit that looked like it was straight out of a textbook, was totally OK. Huge fine for a young player Williams, if he makes the team, will have a base salary of $555,000. Williams wasn’t on an NFL team last season; he has 14 total games, all with the Detroit Lions in 2016. Yet the NFL has no problem taking $20,000 from him. The NFL got rid of its catch rule, and instead replaced it with outrage over overzealous officials handing out penalties for seemingly every hit. The Williams penalty was the prime example of what fans are upset about. Again, a focus on player safety is great. There should be some common sense involved with it though. It’s understandable how an official could see that play happen in real time and make the wrong call. It happens. It’s something entirely different for the league to look at that play, which was clearly a bad call, and still fine an inexperienced player a small fortune anyway. – – – – – – – Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!<doc-sep>
It's one of the most controversial penalties of the preseason. Minnesota Vikings linebacker Antwione Williams says he was fined by the NFL for his roughing the passer penalty against the Jacksonville Jaguars. You might recall the play during last week's preseason game against the Jaguars as the one that sparked nationwide conversation about how confusing the league's new safety rules are. Referees flagged Williams for using the brunt of his body weight to slam the quarterback into the turf, but anyone who's seen the replay seems convinced that it was a textbook tackle. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was furious when it was called, although he later redacted his anger and said the penalty fits within the new safety guidelines. Then again, Zimmer is also on record saying he believes the new rules, which includes a crackdown on players leading with their helmets, will cost teams games, and ultimately result in players and coaches losing their jobs. “It is going to happen. Without a doubt, that is going to happen,” safety Harrison Smith said, agreeing with Zimmer. “If you get a big sack, that changes field position, that changes, maybe getting a guy out of field goal range, get them on third-and-long or something like that, or get off the field on third down. Then it’s a whole new set of downs. It is going to change games.” The Vikings host the Seahawks in a preseason game Friday night, and all eyes will be watching what's called a penalty and what isn't.