SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by John Wendling #29 of the Detroit Lions as he slides to the ground at Candlestick Park on September 16, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions safety John Wendling was fined $7,875 for his hit on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
Detroit Lions safety John Wendling received a $7,875 fine for leading with his forearm on sliding quarterback Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers in their Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 2 of the NFL regular season. Wendling did not get penalized on the play. The 49ers ended up winning 27-19.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has the story on the fine and included a quote from Smith on the punishment.
Said Smith after the game: "I looked up, saw the flag and thought for sure it was a personal foul call, but all of a sudden we were backed up and it was a holding call. I was pretty stunned we didn't get that call."
By contrast, the NFL fined Smith almost twice as much for wearing a San Francisco Giants baseball cap that failed to meet league standards; he was punished with a $15,000 fine for not matching up to the NFL's dress conduct code. In what appeared to be a show of solidarity, Giants manager Bruce Bochy wore a 49ers cap and Giants players wore 49ers gear after their victory over the Colorado Rockies.
49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh had this to say about Bochy's act.
When he was asked about Bochy's gesture today, Jim Harbaugh said, "I thought it was tremendous. Tremendous, tremendous."
Talk about the punishment with Lions fans at Pride of Detroit, and with 49ers fans at Niners Nation.
This story was originally published on SBNation.com.


There are 0 Comments. Add Yours.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.