NFL fines Colts defender for helmet hit on Patriots TE Hunter Henry
E.J. Speed was not penalized for unnecessary roughness during the game.
Colts linebacker E.J. Speed was given a hefty fine by the NFL on Saturday for his illegal hit on Patriots captain Hunter Henry in Week 13.
Speed led with his helmet on the hit, which occurred late in the first quarter of New England’s heartbreaking loss. The contact was significant enough to take Henry out of the game for a few plays, though he later returned and played most of the contest.
Though Speed wasn’t penalized at the time, the NFL later deemed the play dangerous enough to levy the linebacker with a $22,511 fine, the largest of the week by over $2,000.
The NFL officially listed the hit as “Unnecessary Roughness (use of the helmet).” Watch the play here:
Henry has been one of Drake Maye’s biggest security blankets, proving himself as a reliable veteran target for the rookie signal caller. Henry leads the Patriots in receiving yards (610), receptions (58), and targets (83), so losing him for extended time would have been a major blow for New England.
Fortunately for the Patriots, it appears Henry dodged any major injury. Since New England has a bye week, the team is not required to submit injury reports, therefore Henry’s status won’t officially be known until Wednesday.
As for Speed, the 28-year-old is in the last year of his two-year, $8 million deal with Indianapolis. He’s already reached a career-high in tackles (117), and solo tackles (80), and tied his personal best in pass breakups (4) with four games remaining.
So, while the large fine is hurting Speed’s wallet this week, he might not worry about it so much if he’s able to ink a lucrative contract in free agency.
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