SANTA CLARA -- The NFL fined 49ers running back Carlos Hyde $23,152 for initiating contact with the crown of his helmet on a play that resulted in New York Giants linebacker Jon Beason sustaining a concussion on Sunday night.
Hyde was not penalized on the first-quarter play, but the NFL determined his action constituted “unnecessary roughness.”
The rule, which NFL owners adopted in 2013, states that it’s a penalty of “a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside the tackle box.”
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Beason on Friday told reporters that it was actually guard Alex Boone who contributed to the injury – an act he called “a coward move.” Beason said Boone pushed him from behind into Hyde, leading to the concussion.
[RELATED: Giants linebacker Beason accuses 49ers' Boone of dirty play]
“I can honestly say if I wouldn’t have been pushed in the back, I wouldn’t have been concussed,” Beason said.
San Francisco coach Jim Tomsula, when asked Friday by reporters, said he did not know to what Beason was referring.
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“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tomsula said. “I mean, I don’t know whose hard feelings. I mean, nobody wanted Beason to get hurt. I don’t know where you’re going. . . I mean we were blocking, tackling and running."
The NFL did not fine Boone for a possible illegal block in the back. Boone seemed taken aback when learning of Beason's comments.
"I’m sorry he feels that way," Boone said. "I’ve never thought of myself as a dirty player, trying to hurt anybody. He feels the way he feels and I’m sorry he feels that way.
"People are going to feel the way they feel. I’m sorry he feels that way. I’ve intentionally ever tried to go out and hurt anybody. I respect this game more than anybody in this league. I respect everybody in it. If that’s how he feels, then good for him."