The NFL has fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith $16,883 - the maximum allowed for a first-time offender - for an illegal hip-drop tackle on Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.
The incident occurred during the Ravens' Week 7 contest against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Godwin was carted off the field with less than a minute remaining in the game. No flag was thrown on the play.
Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle, ending his season. The 28-year-old was enjoying a productive campaign before his injury: He sits third in the NFL in receiving yards (576) with 50 receptions and five touchdowns.
The NFL defines a hip-drop tackle as a player wrapping both arms around a runner and unweighting himself by "swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee."
The hip-drop tackle became illegal this offseason. It's supposed to be flagged for a 15-yard penalty, but there has yet to be a hip-drop tackle infraction called through seven weeks.
