Chris Baker's Hit on Nick Foles Ruled Legal by NFL; No Fine or Suspension

Washington Redskins NT Chris Baker made a completely legal hit on QB Nick Foles, and will not be facing a suspension or fine from the league according to Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations.  Vincent explains his ruling here:

"Baker didn't do anything wrong with that hit," said Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations. "When you look at the rule, he didn't do anything illegal. People can say it's a cheap shot and you can talk about whether it might fall under unsportsmanlike conduct. But when you know the rule and you look at the play, he didn't hit him in the head. He didn't hit him in the neck. We looked at it. I looked at it very closely. He's not going to be fined for that."

Chris Baker was unapologetic after the game, and thought that he made a legitimate play on a player moving towards his teammate on a turnover.  He said he would make the same play again, and that he was helping his team.  Head Coach Jay Gruden did not think the hit was malicious, and stated that no one on the team is out to hurt opposing players.

This does not mean that Baker won't be getting a fine envelope this week.  Eagles LT Jason Peters ran up to Baker immediately after the hit and the brawl broke out from there.  Peters and Baker were both ejected, and several other players on both sides were throwing punches.  Peters stated that he would do the same thing again if a defender hit his QB in the same situation. Troy Vincent also addressed the brawl and potential fines:

"The fight part of it, that's easy," Vincent said in a telephone interview in which he discussed the meeting that he and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had with former players Tuesday in New York about potential changes to the sport's personal conduct policy. "Those are non-debatable. You can look at it and tell for yourself. Those are just fines [rather than suspensions]."

Baker also had a message for the people calling him dirty after the game:

Yeah all y'all folks had so much to say about me being a dirty player like I said before I did nothing wrong just made a football play

— Chris Baker (@cbaker92redskin) September 23, 2014

HELLO I tried to tell y'all I did nothing wrong take that #eaglesfans and to everyone else who else… http://t.co/6hZS7BFJk0

— Chris Baker (@cbaker92redskin) September 23, 2014

I deserve a public apology for getting ejected and talked about by you commentators for just doing my job #knowtherules

— Chris Baker (@cbaker92redskin) September 23, 2014