Eric Smith, The New York Jets player that committed the dirty hit on Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin in the final seconds of a blowout game is appealing the one-game suspension and the $50,000 fine levied by the NFL. Not that I am surprised. From the AP article:
With 27 seconds remaining and the Jets leading big, Boldin tried to catch a pass from Kurt Warner in the end zone, but was hit in the back by Kerry Rhodes. As Boldin was falling forward, he then took a shot to his helmet from Smith. After being worked on for several minutes, Boldin was immobilized and placed on a stretcher before he was carted off the field. Boldin missed the Cardinals’ game Sunday against Buffalo and is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a fractured sinus.
The hit was not only dirty, it was vicious. Smith hit Boldin helmet-to-helmet while he was being held by another player and was already falling forward. The helmet is a personal saftey device, not a weapon to be used against other players.
