Despite being inactive for the Super Bowl, Vernon Hargreaves managed to get flagged. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals’ Vernon Hargreaves fined over unusual Super Bowl penalty

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 2/19/22

Vernon Hargreaves already hurt the Cincinnati Bengals with his inexcusable penalty during Super Bowl LVI. He’ll also be a bit lighter in the wallet because of it.

Hargreaves received a fine of $5,555 for leaving the bench and entering the field to celebrate after Jessie Bates’ interception late in the first half of Sunday's game. The veteran cornerback, who was inactive for the game, was also flagged for the play.

The NFL fined #Bengals DB Vernon Hargreaves $5,555 after he was flagged for coming off the bench in street clothes to celebrate at the 2-minute warning following DB Jessie Bates’ interception in the end zone in Super Bowl LVI.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 19, 2022

The penalty technically cost Cincinnati only 10 yards, but it moved the Bengals from their own 20 to their own 10. The Bengals didn’t score on the drive, but perhaps things would have been different if the field position had not gone against them.

Hargreaves probably didn’t need the fine as a reminder of how dumb his act was. He’ll get it anyway, just to drive home the point.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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