The NFL said Friday that Steelers linebacker James Harrison wasn’t fined for his hit on Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton during an Aug. 29 preseason game.
Broncos officials, including coach Josh McDaniels, asked the NFL to take a second look at Harrison’s hit, which briefly knocked Orton out of the game.
After the game, McDaniels said, “It kind of looked like Harrison knew (Orton) was going to go low and then he would go ahead and go after the quarterback. Whether it was a cheap thing or not, I’m not sure. I’ll have to see it on film. But it did look, I don’t know, it didn’t look right.”
The play happened early in the second quarter when Harrison believed he was returning a fumble and dived into Orton as the QB tried to go for a low tackle near the Broncos’ sideline. The play eventually was ruled an incomplete pass.
Replays showed Harrison and Orton may have had a helmet-to-helmet collision, with Harrison’s helmet making contact with Orton’s neck as well as near the base of Orton’s helmet.
After the game, Harrison said Orton “got what he had coming” because he said Orton had been “popping off” to the Steelers’ defense during the game.
Broncos outside linebacker Jason Hunter wasn’t fined by the NFL after being penalized during the game for roughing the passer.
Referee Tony Corrente announced during the game that Hunter used his forearm to hit Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch in the helmet.
