Clay Matthews fined $17,363 for hit on St. Louis Rams Nick Foles

Nick Foles was pressured, and hit multiple times during the St. Louis Rams 24-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, and one of those hits was pronounced illegal by the NFL on Friday. Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews took a shot at Foles during the first quarter, which threw Foles back a good couple of yards. Foles was in the pocket, yet nothing could stop the already sprinting Matthews who lowered his head a little too much and hit Foles’ near the upper part of the body. After the game, Coach Fisher commented on the tackle during a press conference with Jim Thomas, St. Louis Rams beat writer, in the audience. 

"“Clay hit him with the crown of the helmet, right in the chest, It goes back to the referee, (Brad Allen), he is the one who’s going to make that call, and he doesn’t see the front of the quarterback. He’s positioned to the throwing hand. So Brad couldn’t see it. I clearly think it was roughing because of the crown of the helmet to the chest. But from his perspective, he couldn’t see the contact. It was kind of one of those things that happens. Sometimes you get those calls. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wrong.”"

However when the hit occurred in the first quarter there was not a roughing the passer call on the field. Mike Periera, former NFL head of officiating, joined the game in the second half and told TV viewers that the hit should have been flagged as a roughing the passer penalty. The NFL agreed with Fisher, and gave the pro bowl linebacker the fine of $17, 363. Of course, Clay Matthews was asked the same question and said he had no intentions of hurting quarterback Foles in his statement.

"“But when you play hard, you have no regrets. And that’s kind of how I play, whether it’s a facemask or a low hit on a quarterback. I don’t think anybody intentionally – especially myself – goes out there and tries to inflict illegal hits. Or pain. Or whatever you like to call it. It’s just a byproduct of playing hard, I believe.”"

Oct 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during warmups prior to the game against the St. Louis Rams at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Matthews is one of the best linebackers in the league, and nothing will slow him down for this tiny foul of $17,363. This is not the first time Matthews was fined because of an illegal hit.

Matthews was also fined on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson. Maybe he has something against NFC West quarterbacks? All jokes aside, neither of those hits was called for roughing the passer.

Matthews was fined $15,00 for a late hit out of bounds against Kaepernick, and $22,050 for an illegal block during an interception return in the NFC Championship game last season. Matthews hardcore style of playing could bite him again as a bigger fine could be heading his way. Either way, the St. Louis Rams still have a quarterback after this hit.