Norman was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty when he launched himself at Shepard and hit the receiver high. Remarkably, Shepard held onto the ball.
The result of the play and subsequent fine, though, may be preferable to Norman compared to the alternative. Norman was drawn off his assignment — and nemesis — Odell Beckham Jr. by Eli Manning’s play-action fake, and that’s how he ended up in the middle of the field and in position to make the play on Shepard. Beckham was left wide open on the left sideline.
Washington won the game, 29-27.
MORE: Week 4 picks straight up
Pro Football Talk notes the $48k coming out of Norman’s paycheck is “more than players usually get for unnecessary roughness, but Norman is considered a repeat offender after two fines for his actions when he played against the Giants last year.”
As a member of the Panthers, Norman was fined for two separate offenses in Carolina’s game against the Giants last season for a total of $26,044 — a facemask and another hit to an opponent’s head and neck area.
