NFL Fines Aaron Donald $16K For Smith Sack In Rams' Season Opener

Photo: Instagram/Aaron Donald

In the aftermath of the recent NFL showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, the league has imposed a substantial fine on Rams' star defensive lineman, Aaron Donald.

A whopping $16,391 is the penalty Donald now bears for his rough tackle on Seahawks' quarterback, Geno Smith, during the season-opening game, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on a Saturday update. Geno Smith's reaction to Aaron Donald's rapid approach was nothing short of startled.

As he saw the All-Pro tackle charging towards him, Smith couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God," driven by understandable fear, given the absence of anyone capable of halting Donald's onslaught in the second quarter. Aaron Donald, a 280-pound powerhouse, has carved his name into NFL history as one of the finest defensive players ever witnessed.

Photo: Instagram/Aaron Donald

In the season opener, he delivered an impressive performance with four tackles and half a sack. Despite grappling with an ankle injury last season, Donald managed to amass 49 tackles and five sacks in just 11 games.

His consistent excellence shines through, having secured at least 11 sacks in five of the last six seasons, and even leading the league with a remarkable 20.5 sacks in 2018. It's safe to say that anyone facing Donald on the field would likely share Geno Smith's terrified reaction.

The unique aspect here was that Smith's microphone captured his audible exclamation. Unfortunately, the quarterback couldn't guide the Seahawks to a first down during the play, resulting in an incomplete pass thrown to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith's overall performance that day saw him complete 16-of-26 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yarder to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in the second quarter. In an additional development, D.K. Metcalf himself faced NFL scrutiny, receiving fines of $10,927.

This disciplinary action stemmed from unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness during the same game. Metcalf's offense occurred when he delivered a forceful shove to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who was caught off guard.

The incident unfolded in the fourth quarter of the NFC West matchup, marking the start of Seattle's drive with just 4:51 remaining. Furthermore, Metcalf incurred a 15-yard taunting penalty after exchanging heated words with irate players on the Los Angeles Rams' sideline.

Rams' head coach, Sean McVay, disclosed that Witherspoon suffered both rib and hip contusions due to Metcalf's hit. Following the game, Metcalf attributed their loss to the Rams' heightened effort and confessed that his own lack of preparation contributed to the unfavorable outcome.

With their sights set on redemption, the Seattle Seahawks are now preparing to face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, hoping to avoid commencing the season with a disheartening 0-2 record for the first time since 2018.

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Source: Yahoo Sports
 

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