NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Chris Kirksey's hit on Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker at the end of a touchdown run likely will warrant a hefty fine, according to Fox analyst Mike Pereira, who is a former director of NFL officiating.
Periera said Kirksey’s hit was a football play that did not warrant ejection, but he believes it will warrant a fine once the league reviews the play.
Locker took the shot 3 or 4 yards into the end zone. As he scrambled, Tashaun Gipson reached and grabbed the top of Locker’s shoulder pads, causing him to go to the ground at the goal line.
As Locker fell, Kirksey went over him as he came off a block and his forearm caught Locker in the helmet.
Kirksey was flagged for a late hit, but it was offset by a penalty on Tennessee’s Michael Oher, as the Titans were clearly unhappy with the blow to the head.
Pereira said he did not think Kirksey should have been ejected.
“It's a football act. No. 1, he’s coming off a block and then he does deliver a forearm to the head,” Pereira said in a brief video he posted on Twitter. “This is not a fight, this is not a punch, it’s not a kick. To me it’s a football act.”
But he quickly added that he believes Kirksey would have “a lot more room” in his wallet this week.
“It’s gonna cost him lots of money for this forearm to the head,” Pereira said.
