Someone at the NFL has a heart after all.
Troy Polamalu won't be forced to pay a ridiculous fine after being knocked out of a Steelers game in October with concussion-like symptoms and having the nerve to call his wife to let her know he was okay.
The deeply religious Steelers star, fearing his bride Theodora had seen the brutal collision with Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew on TV, borrowed a cell phone from a team trainer and called her.
Using a phone during a game -- much like using one during a flight -- is [finger wagging] not allowed. Jason La Canfora, NFL Network Insider, reports even possessing cell phones, PDAs and other communication devices on the sidelines is against league rules from 90 minutes before the start of a game until it ends. The safety was fined $10,000 by the league.
Polamalu, with a long history of concussions during his career, appealed the penalty. The NFL Network reports Polamalu won his appeal on Thursday, meaning he won't have pay the silliest phone bill in the history of the National Football League.
At the time of the punishment, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin ripped the NFL for not using common sense when it came to fining his star.
"He has had a history of concussion-like symptoms in the past," Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "[Mr. Polamalu's wife] was concerned. In this era of player safety, you would think that common sense would prevail in some of these things. It wasn't a personal call. He wasn't checking on his bank account."
Polamalu had 91 tackles, two interceptions and a sack this season for the NFL's No. 1 ranked defense. Pittsburgh was knocked out of the playoffs last weekend by Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
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