Troy Polamalu Fined $10,000 For Calling His Wife To Tell Her He Was Okay After Injury

I understand that rules are rules, but I think it stinks that the NFL has fined Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu $10,000 for a phone call he made on the sideline during last Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

It's against NFL rules to use a cell phone on the sidelines starting 90 minutes prior to the game and ending once the game is over.  Polamalu was actually using a team doctor's phone.  Why?

He was calling his wife to tell her he was okay after being diagnosed with a concussion.

Again, I know rules are there for a reason and maybe Polamalu should be fined, but I think the NFL whiffed on an opportunity to look like the good guy.  After all, last season many players on the Pittsburgh Steelers were convinced that the NFL was purposefully targeting their team in the crackdown on illegal hits by fining several players over the season.  The NFL could have noted Polamalu broke the rule, acknowledged the special circumstance, and then reminded the rest of the league not to do that.

Instead, they look like big jerks.  A guy just wanted to reassure his wife.  Look at what other players in the NFL got fined for:

• AJ Hawk from the Green Bay Packers was fined the same amount ($10,000) for flipping the bird at his sideline during the game
• Antonio Smith, defensive end for the Houston Texans, was fined LESS ($7,500) for ripping an opponent's helmet off his head
• Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins, was fined $15,000 for the helmet-to-helmet hit on Michael Vick

It just doesn't seem right, though.  I don't know if Polamalu will appeal, but I think he should.  The NFL is wrong on this one.