The NFL fines players and teams week after week. Roquan Smith also had to experience this. The Baltimore Ravens linebacker was fined for a tackle with consequences.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to do without Chris Godwin for a long time. The star receiver remained on the field for several minutes after being tackled by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. It is now clear that Godwin needs ankle surgery. Although the Bucs still have hope, a season-ending injury cannot be ruled out.

The controversial part: the “hip-drop tackle” used by Smith has been banned by the NFL before the season to protect the players. A hip-drop tackle is officially defined as a player action that grabs or wraps both hands around a runner with both arms and then drops, landing on the runner’s legs at or below the knee, pinching them.

The referees did not penalize the tackle on the field. However, the NFL is now taking action. As reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the league has fined Smith $16,885.

It is not the first hip-check tackle that has led to an injury. Texans running back Joe Mixon was brought to the ground by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards in Week 2 with a hip-check tackle, resulting in an ankle sprain. Mixon missed three games.

Despite the league’s best efforts, it is clear that the controversial tackle will not immediately disappear from football. Smith is the tenth player this season to be penalized for an offense of this kind.

NFL continues to crack down

In addition to Smith, a large number of other players were penalized by the NFL for various offenses after week 7. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, for example, was penalized for grabbing Smith’s face mask. The 29-year-old has to pay $11,255.

Meanwhile, Trent Williams was fined $11,817 for unnecessary harshness. The San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle was sent off the field for a punch during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. His counterpart for the Chiefs, Bryan Cook, was allowed to stay, but will now also be fined. His penalty is $8,442.

The highest fine of the day was collected by New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams. He attracted attention in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for tackling too hard. Since his helmet was involved, the NFL increased the fine to $45,020.

All other fines* from week 7 at a glance:

• K.J. Britt (Buccaneers): $6,231 – roughing the passer

• Earnest Brown IV (Buccaneers): $5,472 – roughing the passer

• Jordan Whitehead (Buccaneers): $11,817 – blocking low

• Antoine Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers): $11,817 – blocking low

• Deommodore Lenoir (49ers): $11,817 – unnecessary roughness

• Skyy More (Chiefs): $9,356 – unnecessary roughness

• Nnamdi Madubuike (Ravens): $16,883 – roughing the passer in the head and neck area

• Leonard Taylor III (Jets): $4,435 – roughing the passer

• Taron Johnson (Bills): $16,883 – unnecessary helmet hit

• Alec Ingold (Dolphins): $17,445 – low and hard block

• Kader Kohou (Dolphins): $11,055 – two unsportsmanlike conduct calls

• Malcolm Roach (Broncos): $14,069 – unsportsmanlike conduct call

• Levi Wallace (Broncos): $7,181 – hip-drop tackle

• Ben Sims (Packers): $5,083 – unnecessary roughness

• Neville Hewitt (Texans): $11,255: unnecessary late tackle

• Tomon Fox (Giants): $5,102 – roughing the kicker

• Bryce Huff (Eagles): $16,993 – roughing the passer