Seahawks’ Golden Tate says he’ll appeal fine
Sep 20, 2012, 1:28 PM | Updated: 1:30 pm
By Brady Henderson
Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate tells “Bob and Groz” that he “absolutely” plans to appeal the $21,000 fine he received for a blindside block on Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee.
 Golden Tate |
Tate said Thursday that he’s watched several replays of the hit, which occurred in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s Week 2 win over Dallas.
On the play, Lee was trailing Tate in coverage before he began pursuing a scrambling Russell Wilson. Tate, noticing that Wilson had taken off running, peeled back and delivered the block on Lee, who’s angle of pursuit hadn’t changed when he began chasing Wilson.
The crown of Tate’s helmet hit Lee in the upper chest and chin. Lee was considered defenseless because he wasn’t looking at Tate, and the NFL prohibits such hits on defenseless players.
Tate wasn’t penalized on the play, but was slapped with the fine on Wednesday.
“Just tough luck on my part,” he said. “Just gotta learn from it.”
After the game, Tate said he thought he avoided helmet-to-helmet contact with Lee. On Thursday, he questioned the notion that Lee was defenseless.
“I know that I felt him there because he had been running with me the whole play. So I guess I thought he felt me there, so he would have known a block was coming,” Tate said. “But it happens quick. Very, very quick. I didn’t even have a chance to really think about it.”
Tate said he’d ask the league what he should do the next time he’s in a similar situation.
“I’m a strong believer in playing within the rules, regardless of if I agree with them or not,” he said.
