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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Mason McCormick will not face a fine from the NFL for his forceful tackle of Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse in Week 8, according to a league announcement. The incident occurred after an extra-point attempt in the Steelers' 27-6 win, when McCormick grabbed Verse in mid-air and threw him to the turf, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Verse expressed frustration with McCormick and his own teammates for not retaliating after the game, but his comments did not influence the league's decision. The NFL handed out 31 fines in Week 8, the second-most for any week this season, but McCormick was not among those disciplined.
Key Analysis
While McCormick escaped a fine, his teammate, safety Jaquan Brisker, received a $17,911 fine for a hit to the head on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Three Browns players—Tyson Campbell, Quinshon Judkins, and Sam Williams—were also fined for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness. The Browns, who entered the game atop the AFC North via tiebreakers, fell to third in the division after the loss, while the Steelers improved to 6-2 and took first place, avenging their 27-24 loss to Cleveland in Week 4.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.