Eagles Notebook: Eagles won't play softer to avoid fines

If you lead with your head, and the quarterback goes down after throwing the ball, you can expect a fine in commissioner Roger Goodell's NFL.

Referee Tony Corrente said that was what Eagles corner Sheldon Brown did, late in overtime last Sunday, when Brown launched himself at Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who completed a pass on the play. The 15 yards Corrente added set Cincinnati up for a 47-yard field-goal attempt, which Shayne Graham then missed, ensuring the 13-13 tie.

Yet, replays seemed to show Brown making contact with his right shoulder, not his helmet. Brown confirmed yesterday that he has not been fined for the hit. Soooo - did Corrente make the right call?

Apparently not.

Brown said that given the lack of a penalty-affirming fine, "it's a good thing" Graham missed the kick, or you would have heard a lot more about yet another NFL referee deciding yet another game, erroneously.

The bigger issue here, though, is under what circumstances a defensive player is allowed to hit the quarterback these days. The league's intent seems to be to penalize any hard QB hit that occurs even a half-second after the ball is released. Maybe there ought to be an actual discussion of this movement, and some sort of action by the rules committee, instead of referees proclaiming head shots where they don't exist. This was not the first time such a thing has happened this season.

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said yesterday he is not going to change the way he coaches, the things he emphasizes.

"We don't tell [players] anything different, we just don't say anything about it," Johnson said. "I think they're stupid penalties, but it's hard [for a player to] stop. It's just going to be a judgment call. You can look at a lot of games, and I look at a lot of games, and I say, 'That could have been called either way.' I think it was a great play by Sheldon, a good aggressive hit. We don't say anything, but to play the same way, unless it's really a dumb penalty. I haven't seen any of those from our guys."

A reporter wondered if Johnson had any problem with the fact that his players might be fined for following his directives. Short answer: No.

"We never talk about fines," Johnson said. "We don't want cheap shots, but we don't talk about fines, and I don't think we've been close to a fine. The thing I've always said is, 'You can't worry about roughing the passer unless you're way out of line.' We want them leaving their feet and we want them getting after it. We never even talk about fines, as far as roughing the passer. I told them not to worry about roughing the passer." *