Needa Pass Rush
04-08-2005, 06:45 AM
URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3678569,00.html
Lynch finally to get his say on hefty fine
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
April 6, 2005
A little more than three months after Denver Broncos safety John Lynch was fined $75,000 for a hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark in the 2004 regular- season finale, Lynch finally will have his say in the matter.
Lynch, who was at the Broncos' facility Tuesday for the team's off-season conditioning program, will meet face-to-face with NFL officials at the league's Manhattan offices a week from today as part of his appeal.
"And I'm optimistic. . . . I really am," Lynch said. "I'm confident once we lay things out, things will work out."
Lynch has said all along the intent of the appeal is to "protect a reputation I am proud of." At the center of Lynch's appeal is a letter, which he received days after the Jan. 2 game, informing him of the fine.
In a section of the letter, signed by NFL director of operations Gene Washington, who doles out discipline for the league, Washington wrote "future infractions of the type you have committed can lead to increased disciplinary action, up to and including suspension."
The letter also stated the league would "remind" the officiating crew before the Broncos-Colts wild-card playoff game the next weekend that Lynch, by rule, could be ejected for a similar hit. Lynch originally had sought a retraction of that warning, but his request was denied by the league.
It is rare for a fine letter to stipulate officials would be reminded of something before a game, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan repeatedly has said he never had heard of another fine letter containing such a warning.
After Lynch's appeal, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will make a ruling.
In February, Lynch voiced his concerns to the NFL's competition committee about the league's system of fines in which penalties often jump from $7,500 for the first infraction to $75,000 for the next. The committee includes Colts general manager Bill Polian.
"I think everybody on both sides had a better understanding of what some of the players' concerns are with the fines when we were done," Lynch said. "I don't know how happy Bill was, but I felt like it was a good exchange."
Lynch finally to get his say on hefty fine
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
April 6, 2005
A little more than three months after Denver Broncos safety John Lynch was fined $75,000 for a hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark in the 2004 regular- season finale, Lynch finally will have his say in the matter.
Lynch, who was at the Broncos' facility Tuesday for the team's off-season conditioning program, will meet face-to-face with NFL officials at the league's Manhattan offices a week from today as part of his appeal.
"And I'm optimistic. . . . I really am," Lynch said. "I'm confident once we lay things out, things will work out."
Lynch has said all along the intent of the appeal is to "protect a reputation I am proud of." At the center of Lynch's appeal is a letter, which he received days after the Jan. 2 game, informing him of the fine.
In a section of the letter, signed by NFL director of operations Gene Washington, who doles out discipline for the league, Washington wrote "future infractions of the type you have committed can lead to increased disciplinary action, up to and including suspension."
The letter also stated the league would "remind" the officiating crew before the Broncos-Colts wild-card playoff game the next weekend that Lynch, by rule, could be ejected for a similar hit. Lynch originally had sought a retraction of that warning, but his request was denied by the league.
It is rare for a fine letter to stipulate officials would be reminded of something before a game, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan repeatedly has said he never had heard of another fine letter containing such a warning.
After Lynch's appeal, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will make a ruling.
In February, Lynch voiced his concerns to the NFL's competition committee about the league's system of fines in which penalties often jump from $7,500 for the first infraction to $75,000 for the next. The committee includes Colts general manager Bill Polian.
"I think everybody on both sides had a better understanding of what some of the players' concerns are with the fines when we were done," Lynch said. "I don't know how happy Bill was, but I felt like it was a good exchange."