Rams' Robey-Coleman fined for infamous hit
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman will pay his fine from the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New Orleans receiver Tommylee Lewis in the NFC championship game.
The Rams’ slot cornerback wants to move past the drama surrounding that now-infamous hit, which also appeared to happen well before Drew Brees’ pass arrived in the fourth quarter last Sunday. No flag was thrown for pass interference or for the helmet-to-helmet nature of the hit, possibly altering the outcome of Los Angeles’ 26-23 overtime victory at New Orleans.
“It’s all good, and I’m moving on,” Robey-Coleman said. “That’s how the league feels. That’s their call.”
Robey-Coleman confirmed he received a fine from the NFL on Friday, essentially a tacit acknowledgement by the league that a penalty should have been called. The NFL Network reported he was fined $26,739.
Robey-Coleman wouldn’t say whether he agreed with the league’s decision to fine him for helmet-to-helmet contact, but the veteran defensive back acknowledged after the game that he could have easily been whistled for pass interference.
“It’s the league’s call, the ref’s call,” Robey-Coleman said. “I have nothing to do with that (decision). I made a football play. The ref made his call, and there’s nothing else that I could do about it. That’s their call, and that’s something that you just have to live with as a football team, and we’re going to the Super Bowl, so we just have to move on.”
They’re not done talking about it in New Orleans, however. The no-call has sparked outrage among the Saints and their fans, including calls for a Super Bowl boycott. Two lawsuits have been filed over the officiating, calling for everything from a replay of the game’s final moments to full refunds for Superdome fans.
New Orleans coach Sean Payton said the referees “blew the call.”
