No player is happy to receive an envelope from the league informing them that they’ve been fined, which gives Broncos safety T.J. Ward two reasons to frown this week.
Ward was fined twice by the NFL for infractions during the team’s Week Nine game against the Colts. Ward was fined $17,363 for a hit on Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton during the game and he also drew a $5,700 fine for a uniform infraction. Ward said his jersey was untucked and that he’s “had it that way all season” without drawing a fine until this week.
Ward was penalized for the hit on Hilton, who was deemed a defenseless receiver when Ward’s helmet made contact with his facemask.
“I expected it, but I’m going to fight it,” Ward said of the fine, via Mike Klis of 9News.
Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he thought Ward hit Hilton the way defensive players are taught to hit and that the team “felt like [Ward] did what he was asked to do.”