Panthers WR Steve Smith fined for bumping official

 

NEW YORK-- Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith was fined $15,000 for bumping an official during Week 16's loss to Dallas.

 

Smith's fine was for "impermissible physical contact with a game official," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said. Smith was ejected in the third quarter against the Cowboys.

 

After Smith advanced a fumble and was tackled out of bounds by Terence Newman, he claimed he was hit a second time out of bounds. Smith immediately began yelling at line judge Mark Steinkerchner, then placed his arms around the official.

 

He was instantly called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty and ejected.

 

"I got hit out of bounds a little late, and as I was trying to get up, someone pushes me back down," Smith said after the game. "I grabbed the ref and said, 'Hey did you see that?'

 

"You're not supposed to touch a ref, I understand that. I wasn't doing it to put him down."

 

Smith, known for problems with his temper in the past, had behaved well this season.

 

"I wasn't trying to be demonstrative and all that stuff. I'm not trying to put my hands on the ref or get physical with the ref, that's not my style," Smith said. "It's my first time ever getting thrown out of a game."

 

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CAR/9121143

Panthers WR Steve Smith fined for bumping official

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CAR/9121143

I'm sure that puts a real hole in his pocket.

I thought it was a dumb penalty and everything... its one thing if your pushing or something like that to an official and another just touching one.....Next time I saw that official id run him over by "accident" during the game.

Didn't Steve Smith use to play for the Blackhawks before joining the NFL during the lockout?

I just saw the Smith tackle before on TV. Newman began the tackle before he went out of bounds, so I have absolutely no idea what Steve was thinking there. It could help prolong our season hopefully too.

I'm probably biased here, as he's one of my favorite players, but I thought that ejection was bulls***. I've seen several players touch the ref before during a game, and I guess it was just because he was questioning the call that he got thrown out. But really, there was no intent to hurt the guy, he just put his hand on his waist and asked what happened.

 

Oh well, I guess I need to pull against him again though today against ATL as my Cowboys are depending on it.

I just saw the Smith tackle before on TV. Newman began the tackle before he went out of bounds, so I have absolutely no idea what Steve was thinking there. It could help prolong our season hopefully too. 

 

It doesnt matter if you begin the tackle inbounds if he is out of bounds you need to stop.... same thing with the QB basicly you can be in the process of laying a hurting and even if u cant see if he throws the ball you need to stop or you get the bs roughing the passer.

Seemed unfair, he wasn't trying to hit the ref. $15,000 sounds like too much money.

Steinkerchner is a b****. I have seen Michael Strahan put his hands on an official numerous times. Just because Mike has an inch-wide gap between his two front teeth doesn't mean that you let him off the hook and punish cocky little bastards like Steve Smith. Steve is cocky in a good way, though. Not many players have more balls that that guy.