Seahawks say concussion protocol violation was ‘unintentional,’ accept fine
The Seattle Seahawks were fined $100,000 on Thursday for violating the NFL’s concussion protocol in Week 10, and the team has released a statement addressing the situation.
Shortly after the disciplinary action was announced, a Seahawks spokesperson said the mishandling of Russell Wilson’s potential head injury was “unintentional and the result of confusion on the sideline.”
Statement from a @Seahawks spokesperson: pic.twitter.com/DAeAI6MNw7
— Seattle Seahawks (@seahawksPR) December 21, 2017
The Seahawks allowed Wilson to return to their Week 10 game against the Arizona Cardinals just minutes after an official ordered him to leave the field to undergo concussion testing. It’s unclear where the “confusion” came into play, but television cameras appeared to show Wilson essentially calling the shots and putting himself back into the game. He was not checked for concussion symptoms or evaluated in the medical tent despite referee Walt Anderson ordering him off the field.
A $100,000 fine may seem harsh for something that several teams have been guilty of recently, but the Seahawks are no strangers to violating league rules. They were likely treated as repeat offenders.
