Sims plans to appeal ‘outrageous’ penalty

Ernie Sims is mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore. Or something along those lines.

The hard-hitting Eagles linebacker was fined $50,000 late Wednesday for striking receiver Lavelle Hawkins in last Sunday’s loss to Tennessee. On Thursday, Sims called the fine “outrageous” and plans to appeal it.

“I don’t care how much money you make, that’s a ton of money, money I worked hard for my whole life,” Sims said. “Just for anybody to take it away from me for something that I do on the field, I just think it’s crazy.”

Sims’ hit came away from the play. According to the NFL, the Eagle was guilty of “unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver in the neck and head area with his forearms.”

Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott called it a close play. However, under the league’s revamped guidelines, players have to be more aware.

“Is there a fine line there between aggressive and not being a smart player? Yes,” McDermott said. “We’ve got to make sure we find that fine line, so that we don’t hurt the team.”

Sims thinks the league might be making an example out of him, since he was fined for unnecessary roughess in 2008 and 2009, with the Detroit Lions. Still, he doesn’t plan to change his style of play.

“That’s just the type of player I am — aggressive,” Sims said. “I like hitting. It’s fun to me. That’s just the way I play football.”