Back in November, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Stephen Peterman was fined $10,000 for two chop-block penatlies he was flagged for in the team's Week 9 game versus the New York Jets. (You might recall Jets linebacker Bart Scott accusing the Lions of being a dirty team in postgame remarks.)
↵Replays showed that Peterman didn't actually commit a chop-block, defined as cut-blocking a defender at the knees while his upper body is engaged with another blocking lineman. Yet referees told Peterman he was being penalized for "baiting" a defensive player with a cut-block while another blocker "assumed a pass-blocking posture."
↵No one except the officials appeared to understand exactly what was being called. Yet Peterman was still being fined $5,000 for each penalty. So he filed an appeal.
↵However, after reviewing the film, the NFL decided that Peterman didn't commit any chop-blocks and should not have been penalized. Therefore, both fines have been rescinded. But apparently, no clarification on the referees' interpretation of "baiting" was offered.
↵Perhaps Ndamukong Suh's $15,000 fine for a supposedly illegal hit on the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler in Week 13 will be rescinded next.
↵(via Pro Football Talk)