Fine by me: NFL won’t tax rookie

Yes, Kurt Coleman was assessed a 15-yard penalty for his hit on Austin Collie in Sunday’s 26-24 win over the Colts. But the rookie safety won’t be fined this week by the NFL for violating its new rule regarding violent hits.

The reason? The helmet-to-helmet contact was the result of Collie being driven into Coleman by Quintin Mikell’s legal hit. In other words, it was incidental.

“It was unfortunate. I think the refs made the right call,” Coleman said. “They have a harder time out there than anybody.”

While coach Andy Reid wouldn’t say if the refs made the correct call, he did say that he supports the rule changes. Reid called the Collie hit a “bang-bang play.”

“I’m not going back on that call and saying it’s right or wrong,” Reid said. “But I’m going to tell you that I think it’s important that everybody grows with it and that there will be a consistency on judgment that comes to roost here as we look at this.”