Michael Bennett Reportedly Fined $20k for Hit on Andy Dalton

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has been hit with a $20,000 fine for an unnecessary roughness penalty against Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in Week 5. 

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Bennett's fine.

The play in question occurred late in the second quarter, when Seahawks safety Earl Thomas picked off Dalton in the end zone. Thomas returned the ball out to the Bengals' 31-yard line, but he was called back as Bennett blocked Dalton in the back and continued to knock him into the turf while trying to get up.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, that Bennett went off the rails momentarily. 

"He just lost his mind a little bit and went after the quarterback too aggressively," Carroll said. "I’ll tell you this, in the old days in interception returns that was kind of the style that you go after the quarterback and you tried to get a shot on him. That was like back in the sixties. Unfortunately, it was a real mistake."

Bennett has had a history with quarterbacks, as he was fined more than $17,000 in the preseason for a hit to the head and neck area on Kansas City's Alex Smith. 

During a radio interview on ESPN 710 in August (h/t Nina Mandell of USA Today), Bennett said too many quarterbacks in the NFL today are looking for penalties. 

However, there is no doubt that Bennett's actions against Dalton were over the top. Adding insult to the fine, the Bengals would end up winning the game after scoring 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and overtime. 

Bennett's penalty cost the Seahawks field position and perhaps a chance to add points before halftime, so this could be a chance for him to learn to reel in some of his emotions so his team doesn't suffer as a result.