Cullen Jenkins among six Giants fined after Rams game
Giants defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins practices during team training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. (Aug. 2, 2013) Credit: James Escher
Cullen Jenkins got some mail from the NFL offices on Wednesday, and it wasn't a Christmas card.
It was a notification that he'd been fined $16,537 for an excessive hit on Rams quarterback Shaun Hill in Sunday's win in St. Louis. It wasn't the fine that got under the veteran defensive tackle's skin, though; it was that his was the most costly act by a Giants player in a game that included several unnecessary-roughness calls, a brawl and two teammates who were ejected.
"I knew they were going to fine me, but the fact that I was fined more than the people who got in the fight? That was puzzling to me," Jenkins said.
Wide receiver Preston Parker said he was fined $15,000 for his role in the fight. Defensive end Damontre Moore also heard from the league for the fight. Both of those players were ejected. Kicker Josh Brown, long snapper Zak DeOssie and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also were hit with as-yet-undisclosed amounts.
But none of those fines was as much as Jenkins'.
"I don't know what their system is or if they grade on a curve or something,'' Jenkins said. "I've rarely been fined. It's not like they can sit up here and say I'm a dirty player.''
Jenkins said he is contemplating an appeal, not because of the money -- he was happy to have that cash go to charity -- but because of the perceived hypocrisy.
"I just got fined more for roughing the passer than anyone who was in the fight. Even players who got ejected," he wrote on Twitter. "So I should just fight then."
Kennard's toe an issue
Rookie linebacker Devon Kennard, nursing an injured big toe, did not practice on Wednesday and was wearing a protective boot on his left foot. He said he is day-to-day -- he'll see about practicing on Friday when the team returns to work -- and would like to play in the game on Sunday.
While his status for Sunday is in doubt, Kennard said he is confident he is just dealing with soreness and not a long-term issue like the one fellow linebacker Jon Beason struggled with since the spring and ultimately required season-ending surgery. He called it a "nagging" injury and compared it to the hamstring that kept him out of two games early in the season.
"If I take care of it and handle it properly, it shouldn't be a long-term deal at all," Kennard said. "Especially with the season ending right around the corner. After this week I'll have time to rest it and get it right. I don't think it's going to be some long issue."
Giant steps
Tom Coughlin said he spoke with the team about the chirping and trash-talking that preceded the Week 6 game against the Eagles and does not expect that to take place again before this week's game. "I think we learned our lesson," he said . . . RB Rashad Jennings (ankle), LB Jameel McClain (knee), RB Andre Williams (shoulder) and LB Paul Hazel (hamstring) were limited in Wednesday's practice. The Giants are off Thursday and will return to work Friday . . . Jennings won the 14th annual George Young Good Guy Award, as voted on by the Giants' chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
