The NFL adopted a rule in 2018 to penalize players for initiating contact with the crown of their helmet. On Monday, Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis was fined for lowering his helmet according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Lewis hasn't been the only player to take a hit in their pocket for the infraction.
Lewis was fined $28,075 for lowering his helmet against the New England Patriots but wasn't penalized for the play. Of course, Lewis formerly played with the Patriots before he joined the Titans in 2018.
During this preseason, all of the focus has been on the new challenges that involve pass-interference calls on the field. Coaches have thrown challenge flags throughout the preseason just to see if the refs in the game would call pass-interference on certain plays.
Despite that rule being the talk of the league, the NFL is trying to crack down on players who are unnecessarily lowering their helmet. Besides Lewis, two other players were fined for the same rule infraction throughout this preseason.
Along with Lewis, Cleveland Browns safety J.T. Hassell was penalized during his game against the Indianapolis Colts. Hassell lowered his helmet and made a hit on running back Nyheim Hines. As a result, the defensive back was handed the same fine as Lewis was.
Additionally, San Francisco 49ers safety Adrian Colbert was fined for using his helmet. Colbert used the top of his helmet to make a hit on Dallas Cowboys receiver Cedrick Wilson. For Colbert, the safety was ejected from the game and later fined the same amount as the other two players.
The NFL is trying to prevent players from getting unnecessary hits to the head and it will likely cost you $28,075 if you end up committing the penalty this season.
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