According to an NFL spokesman, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was fined $10,000 for talking on a cell phone while on the sidelines.
Polamalu suffered a concussion during last Sunday’s game against Jacksonville, and he borrowed a cell phone from a team doctor to contact his wife. NFL rules prohibit possession of cell phones or other electronic equipment in the bench area during a game.
Head coach Mike Tomlin had indicated that he hoped the NFL wouldn’t discipline Polamalu. “It wasn’t a personal call,” Tomlin said. “He was talking to his wife to let her know that he was fine.”
If there was ever a reason to make an exception to the rules, this is one of those cases. Notifying a loved one about an injury should not be treated the same way as somebody Tweeting about the game.
I really hope that the NFL reconsiders this decision.
