Washington Commanders rookie defensive tackle John Ridgeway should expect a hefty fine from the NFL after suplexing Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce on the first drive of the third quarter during Sunday’s game.
Ridgeway was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving the Texans an automatic first down. Houston scored a field goal on the drive. Fortunately, the penalty and score didn’t hurt the Commanders too much, as they maintained a 20-3 lead en route to a 23-10 win.
Ridgeway can use every penny of his $626,672 base salary as a fifth-round draft pick. Therefore, he will welcome the helping hand offered by his fellow Washington defensive linemen.
Appearing on 106.7 the Fan’s the Sports Junkies, Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said Ridgeway is getting help to pay his eventual fine.
“I don’t know what round [Ridgeway] was drafted at. I’m not sure. So me, Payne, and Montez agreed to take one-fourth of the fine he’s going to get. It’s going to be massive. If we didn’t help him out, I think he’d be playing the month of December for free,” Allen said.
Allen did say Ridgeway is on his own for his next fine. Ridgeway is no stranger to unnecessary roughness. In Week 9, he got flagged for illegal contact with the Minnesota Vikings long-snapper on a field goal attempt with less than two minutes remaining and the game tied.
The flag gave the Vikings a first down and allowed Minnesota to run the clock down to 12 seconds before a game-winning field goal.
Ridgeway’s suplex on Pierce didn’t hurt the Commanders as severely. But it will put a dent in his paycheck. Thankfully, Allen, Sweat, Payne will soften the blow for the young lad.
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