"Fines" Ward?

Still lots on the horizon today, and we're hoping to get a few different posts in today, but we'll start with this:

Hines Ward will not be fined for the block he put on Bengals LB Keith Rivers in Sunday's game. The block was viewed as brilliant by some, dirty by others. But the important thing is that Hines was not penalized, nor was he fined, nor should he have been for either. The NFL got it right this time.

For some insight on this, we found the following from "Ask Vic" on Jaguars.com, so it's a perspective from outside the division, that shouldn't be biased one way or another. Here goes:

Kevin from Orange Park, FL
What’s your reaction to Hines Ward breaking rookie LB Keith Rivers’ jaw? I, for one, think Hines Ward is a dirty player. Seems to me most games he purposely stirs up trouble and takes cheap hits.
Vic: I’ve watched the hit up close and in slow motion several times. I’ve even stopped the action at the point of impact. The block is clearly made with his right shoulder and there are no signs of using the helmet as a weapon. Ward’s feet are on the ground and he is in no way guilty of launching. At first I thought the block might be unnecessary but, on further review, it clearly springs the ball-carrier around the corner and denies Rivers the ability to make the tackle. Dirty? What’s dirty about it? There was no flag thrown. Fine him? They should pin a medal on him. In my time covering this game, I have seen head-hunting defensive backs try to cripple defenseless receivers. I saw Jack Tatum and George Atkinson target Lynn Swann; head-shot him repeatedly and even attack him from behind and karate chop him in the back of the neck. I saw Tatum cripple Daryl Stingley for life in a preseason game. I saw Thom Darden hit a receiver over the middle so hard I thought the guy was dead. I remember seeing Jaguars cornerback Dave Thomas crush Jerry Rice in a preseason game and celebrate as though it was the play that won the Super Bowl. In the preseason? How about the launch job on Anquan Boldin a few weeks ago? Well, finally, a wide receiver has come along who has decided to hit back. Ward is striking a blow for all the defenseless receivers over the years who’ve been targeted by defensive players with an intent to punish. All of a sudden, the hunters have become the hunted. I think everyone in the league is waiting to see what the league does about the Rivers hit. It’s going to define what the game has become and where it’s going.

The word out of New york that Hines will not be fined is great news in my opinion. Vic is absolutely right. So much of the fun has been taken out of the game already (Fines for TD celebrations, fines for mismatched socks, nixing tributes on peoples shoes, etc.) that the last thing they need to do is start taking the hitting out of the game as well. If you want to fine somebody, fine Terrell Suggs (A.K.A. Terrible Sucks) and Ray "Double Murder" Lewis for admitting that they put a bounty out on Ward and Rashard Mendenhall in the September 29th game. Injuries are one thing, full out intent is another. Fuck you Ravens.