Ben Roethlisberger returned to the sideline for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4 to help the team in the wake of his elbow surgery, and he managed to get himself fined for a uniform violation despite not being in uniform.
Roethlisberger was fined $5,000 for wearing an Apple Watch on the sideline during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. NFL rules prohibit players and coaches from wearing electronic devices that can transmit messages, but Roethlisberger is “livid” that he was fined and is planning to appeal.
Here’s the best part: Roethlisberger supposedly didn’t even realize he had the watch on. His wife helped dress him since he is currently unable to use his right arm, and she strapped the watch to his wrist. The veteran quarterback feels he should have been given advanced notice from the NFL before receiving a fine letter.
Players wearing watches has become a big topic of conversation this season with Odell Beckham Jr. choosing to wear this impressive timepiece during a recent game. However, the issue with Roethlisberger’s watch is that it was one capable of sending and receiving messages. You can understand why those aren’t allowed on the sideline.
