NFL fines Geno Smith for taunting Giants in Week 4

The NFL has fined Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith for taunting the New York Giants in Week 4 following a hit he felt was “dirty.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was fined $10,927 for unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting members of the New York Giants in Week 4.

Smith was unhappy after being tackled by Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons near the sideline and sustaining a knee injury. He briefly left the game and went for X-rays before eventually returning.

The tackle began in the field of play and was carried out of bounds. Watching it on a slowed-down replay shows that Simmons did nothing wrong or malicious, but Smith was furious and that anger carried over into the postgame.

“I just don’t respect that type of stuff. There’s no need for that type of stuff. It’s a hard-fought game out there. We’re all battling, but there’s no need to take shots at guys running out of bounds on the sideline,” Smith told reporters, adding that it was a “dirty play.”

Smith said he hoped something would happen to Simmons in the way of a fine but the NFL disagreed. The veteran linebacker was not disciplined for the tackle.

What led to Smith’s fine was his reaction on the field. He was seen jawing with Giants safety Xavier McKinney and was later flagged for taunting after a 23-yard pass to Tyler Lockett in the third quarter.

“I don’t know. I really don’t care, to be honest, about what he is saying or what he is doing, honestly. So, don’t really matter,” McKinney said when asked about Smith after the game. “I thought the hit was fine, so I mean, he’ll be alright.”

Although the Giants escaped being fined this week, that was not the case the week prior. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams and several other players received invoices from the league over carious alleged infractions.

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