Trent Cole Fined for Injuring Russell Okung: A Fan’s Reaction

The Seattle Seahawks have already lost offensive lineman Russell Okung for the season, but at least the league did something about the situation that caused the injury. It might not seem like much in the scheme of things, but the NFL has reportedly fined Eagles defensive end Trent Cole $7,500 for the play that ended Okung's season.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Dec. 1 game between the Seahawks and Eagles, Cole flipped Okung onto his back, resulting in a torn right pectoral muscle. The Seattle Time gave a good correlation of where the fine fell into line with others that the league has levied this season. The $7,500 is the same amount that Golden Tate got fined for falling onto his back while celebrating a touchdown in the same game. It's also less than Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennett got fined for wearing orange cleats that weren't among the approved colors ($10,000).

The Seahawks coaches have really taken the high-road in this situation, and even head coach Pete Carroll stopped short of calling it dirty. Many fans felt that the play was very dirty, especially because the Seahawks were winning 31-14, had the ball to run out the clock and there were less than two minutes left in the game. Add to this the fact that Okung got thrown to the ground after the whistle on that play (not to mention neither player was near the ball), and it's easy to see why the league decided to levy a fine.

This injury to Okung and the fine that Cole received is certainly not getting enough press around the league. Okung was the first-round pick by the Seahawks in the 2010 NFL Draft, and continue to represent a large part of the re-building efforts on the offensive line. Seattle needs him to keep developing and losing him for the last four games of the year is not something easily overcome. The league clearly stated that the play was so unacceptable that it deserves a fine, but was the punishment really enough to make up for what Cole did to Okung?

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Sources:

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*Ryan Christopher DeVault is a lifelong fan of the Seattle Seahawks that continues to hold out hope that the team is heading in the right direction with a new coach, a weak NFC West, and some great young players on defense.

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