jerseygiantfan Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Updated: Oct. 20, 2006, 4:52 PM ET NFL fines Giants' Pierce $12,500 for hit on Vick By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com news services New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has been fined $12,500 by the league for his late hit on Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick in the closing minutes of last Sunday's 27-14 victory over the Falcons. A league spokesman confirmed the fine, first reported by Newsday, on Friday afternoon. The fine was anticipated, since Vick clearly was out of bounds when Pierce hit him, and because the Giants' star linebacker all but admitted after the game that his action came in retaliation to the cut-blocking that he endured from Atlanta offensive linemen throughout the contest. "They beat me up pretty good," Pierce said of his treatment from the Falcons' offensive linemen. "They can thank themselves for that, and I can thank myself for knocking out Vick." Atlanta one of several franchises in the league that employ the cut-blocking scheme, which was essentially created by longtime offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, now a consultant on the Falcons' staff. The cut-blocking scheme, which Gibbs first introduced in Denver, is despised by defenders leaguewide because of the potential for injuries, especially to the knee. The play for which Pierce was fined occurred with 1:02 remaining in the game and the Falcons facing a third-and-10 from their 23-yard line. Vick scrambled to his left and up the sideline for 17 yards, then was hit by Pierce while several feet out of bounds. Several Falcons players jumped from the bench and surrounded Pierce, while Giants players came to his defense. There was some pushing and shoving, but no punches were thrown. Pierce, who finished the game with an uncharacteristically low one tackle, was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul, moving the ball to the New York 45. Vick and Pierce jawed and gestured at each other for several seconds as they returned to the field. The $12,500 fine is relatively standard for such a penalty. While it is in keeping with the NFL emphasis on protecting quarterbacks, Pierce probably would have been similarly sanctioned for hitting any player so far out of bounds. A six-year veteran, Pierce could not be reached Friday afternoon. He can appeal the fine but likely would have a tough time prevailing in such an action. Pierce's base salary for 2006 is $2.35 million, so the fine represents a microscopic portion of his compensation for this season. WORTH EVERY PENNY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gateb Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Updated: Oct. 20, 2006, 4:52 PM ET NFL fines Giants' Pierce $12,500 for hit on Vick By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com news services New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has been fined $12,500 by the league for his late hit on Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick in the closing minutes of last Sunday's 27-14 victory over the Falcons. A league spokesman confirmed the fine, first reported by Newsday, on Friday afternoon. The fine was anticipated, since Vick clearly was out of bounds when Pierce hit him, and because the Giants' star linebacker all but admitted after the game that his action came in retaliation to the cut-blocking that he endured from Atlanta offensive linemen throughout the contest. "They beat me up pretty good," Pierce said of his treatment from the Falcons' offensive linemen. "They can thank themselves for that, and I can thank myself for knocking out Vick." Atlanta one of several franchises in the league that employ the cut-blocking scheme, which was essentially created by longtime offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, now a consultant on the Falcons' staff. The cut-blocking scheme, which Gibbs first introduced in Denver, is despised by defenders leaguewide because of the potential for injuries, especially to the knee. The play for which Pierce was fined occurred with 1:02 remaining in the game and the Falcons facing a third-and-10 from their 23-yard line. Vick scrambled to his left and up the sideline for 17 yards, then was hit by Pierce while several feet out of bounds. Several Falcons players jumped from the bench and surrounded Pierce, while Giants players came to his defense. There was some pushing and shoving, but no punches were thrown. Pierce, who finished the game with an uncharacteristically low one tackle, was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul, moving the ball to the New York 45. Vick and Pierce jawed and gestured at each other for several seconds as they returned to the field. The $12,500 fine is relatively standard for such a penalty. While it is in keeping with the NFL emphasis on protecting quarterbacks, Pierce probably would have been similarly sanctioned for hitting any player so far out of bounds. A six-year veteran, Pierce could not be reached Friday afternoon. He can appeal the fine but likely would have a tough time prevailing in such an action. Pierce's base salary for 2006 is $2.35 million, so the fine represents a microscopic portion of his compensation for this season. WORTH EVERY PENNY! You say that because it's not your money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseygiantfan Posted October 20, 2006 Author Share Posted October 20, 2006 You say that because it's not your money. no I say that because it was a great hit! I'm sure Pierce would agree it's worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringe Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 not bad, definitely warranted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treehugger Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Aren't cut blocks illegal now too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gateb Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Aren't cut blocks illegal now too? With that said, isn't tackling the quarterback illegal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treehugger Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 With that said, isn't tackling the quarterback illegal? Only if you hit him in the body, legs, arms or head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 no I say that because it was a great hit! I'm sure Pierce would agree it's worth every penny. 12k is still a lot of money. I'm sure he'd take the hit back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastershake Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 that was an absolutely cheap and uneithical hit on the QB, or any player that matter, especially since it came at the end of the game where ATL didn't have a prayer. he totally didn't need to hit him... i really want to know what he said to the players on the ATL sideline after that hit on vick... he must have come up with somethin compelling, because right after i saw that hit, i immediatly thought the whole team was going to trample him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringe Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 that was an absolutely cheap and uneithical hit on the QB, or any player that matter, especially since it came at the end of the game where ATL didn't have a prayer. he totally didn't need to hit him... i really want to know what he said to the players on the ATL sideline after that hit on vick... he must have come up with somethin compelling, because right after i saw that hit, i immediatly thought the whole team was going to trample him. he said he has relatives in jersey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYSportsInFL Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Pierce is fucking awsome plain and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exit 117 Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 that was an absolutely cheap and uneithical hit on the QB, or any player that matter, especially since it came at the end of the game where ATL didn't have a prayer. he totally didn't need to hit him... i really want to know what he said to the players on the ATL sideline after that hit on vick... he must have come up with somethin compelling, because right after i saw that hit, i immediatly thought the whole team was going to trample him. probably called him a n*gg*r or something. It is Atlanta, after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeMesiS Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Absolutely bull shit...Pierce needs that money to get tested for herpes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mws44 Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 that was an absolutely cheap and uneithical hit on the QB, or any player that matter, especially since it came at the end of the game where ATL didn't have a prayer. he totally didn't need to hit him... i really want to know what he said to the players on the ATL sideline after that hit on vick... he must have come up with somethin compelling, because right after i saw that hit, i immediatly thought the whole team was going to trample him. OOOOOO Kay Mr. high and mighty. I love the fact that they say he was several feet out of bound. Neither of his feet had even touched the white when he was hit. Whatever, I still say if he runs like a running back, you can't fine the D when they hit him like one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeMesiS Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 that was an absolutely cheap and uneithical hit on the QB, or any player that matter, especially since it came at the end of the game where ATL didn't have a prayer. he totally didn't need to hit him... i really want to know what he said to the players on the ATL sideline after that hit on vick... he must have come up with somethin compelling, because right after i saw that hit, i immediatly thought the whole team was going to trample him. Welcome to the Giants section.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 OOOOOO Kay Mr. high and mighty. I love the fact that they say he was several feet out of bound. Neither of his feet had even touched the white when he was hit. Whatever, I still say if he runs like a running back, you can't fine the D when they hit him like one. WhenI first saw it I thought that the hit was late but ESPN showed the replay today and he still hadn't gone out of bounds. He was heading out but he was still on the field. Now that being said... Are any of the Falcons players going to get fined for the sack on Eli? I swear someone jumped into the group and went helmet to helmet with our QB and nothing was said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rphguy Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 i'm glad he could afford to pay the fine, because I'm glad he hit him. if it was a running back instead of a running QB, there would have been no flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mws44 Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 WhenI first saw it I thought that the hit was late but ESPN showed the replay today and he still hadn't gone out of bounds. He was heading out but he was still on the field. Now that being said... Are any of the Falcons players going to get fined for the sack on Eli? I swear someone jumped into the group and went helmet to helmet with our QB and nothing was said. Yeah seriously man. I was going crazy when I saw that flying head butt. How does a ref miss something so blatent. 2 D linemen hold him up and a LB comes flying in and head butts him. I guess thats legal when you play the giants, just like holding Osi and Strahan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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