Just based on the eye test, we’d imagine Golden Tate’s peelback hit on the Cowboys’ Sean Lee will draw a fine from the NFL. Tate seemed to launch at Lee’s head which, thanks to the so-called “Hines Ward rule” is illegal, regardless of whether the Seahawks’ receiver led with his helmet, shoulder or forearm.
The hit was, somewhat inexplicably, not called on the field, but as we’ve seen over the past two years, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a fine. And Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones, for one, wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.
“We saw the same thing you saw, the head hit," Jones said, per the Dallas Morning News. “That’s certainly something that we expect penalties and fines about, but they didn’t see the
helmet hit or they would have called it.’’
Head coach Jason Garrett, too, believes that the hit was illegal, and indeed, just the sort of thing the league has been trying to crack down on for the past few seasons.
“I thought he was a defenseless player who was hit,’’ Garrett said. “That is something the league is trying to guard against, and is a pretty good example of what that was.’’
Stay on top of the latest Dallas Cowboys news with NBCDFW.com. Follow NBC DFW on Facebook or have breaking Cowboys news sent directly to your phone with Blue Star SMS alerts. Text "bluestar" to 622339 (NBCDFW) to subscribe, text HELP for more info, and text STOP to end the subscription. Message and data rates may apply.Read more about it here.
