Pro Bowler Fined Twice for Infractions against Cleveland
Williams was selected by the NFL on Thursday night to play in the Pro Bowl Games for the second consecutive season. The league administration allegedly punished the Jets all-star with two penalties two days later in connection with the team’s Week 17 primetime defeat to the Cleveland Browns. Two roughing violations will result in a $27,318 loss for the 25-year-old Williams.
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the league fined Joe Flacco, the quarterback for the Browns, $16,391 for roughing him on a play in the second quarter that resulted in a score.
Late in the first half, Williams seemed to unintentionally swipe Flacco across the facemask as he was flushing the quarterback out of the pocket, turning the QB’s head. After dodging Williams’s pressure, the seasoned field general found running back Jerome Ford for a 50-yard scoring pass. Williams was not given a penalty call by the referees during the play.
Williams was called for a personal foul face mask earlier in the second quarter, which cost the Jets 15 yards on a Kareem Hunt first-down run of three yards. The All-Pro defensive tackle’s other second-quarter infraction cost him $10,927 in fines.
Williams was credited with three stops, including 1.0 TFL, during the 37-20 defeat. The game-changing defender has fared well while operating in both pass and run situations. He has made 51 tackles on rushing plays and has hit the opposing passer a team-high 18 times this season.
After signing a mega four-year contract extension this past July, Williams joined Hall-of-Famer Joe Klecko and former first-rounder John Abraham as the only three defensive linemen in Jets’ history to capture back-to-back Pro Bowl selections.
Williams, who has not missed a game all season, will lead the Jets (6-10) up against the New England Patriots (4-12) in the finale on January 7.
