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Saints DT Nathan Shepherd successfully appeals NFL fine stemming from Justin Herbert leg twist

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones11/27/24brianjones_93
Nathan Shepherd
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd successfully appealed an NFL fine stemming from him twisting Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert‘s leg during the Week 8 matchup, according to multiple reports. Shepherd was accused of trying to injure Herbert’s ankle, which was sprained earlier in the year.

Shepherd appealed the fine of $11,817 and received notice from the NFL last week that it would be rescinded. It was his first fine and penalty of the season.

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After Nathan Shepherd took down Justin Herbert, Chargers offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman shoved Shepherd, and both players were flagged for unnecessary roughness. Bozeman was not fined for his actions, and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh gave him the game ball after the game.

“That’s the type of center you want on your team,” Herbert said about Bradley Bozeman at the time, per ESPN. “He’ll give everything for this team, and I appreciated what he did. I tried to pull him off so he didn’t get any penalties called, but to have a guy like that defending you, there’s no better feeling.”

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More on Nathan Shepherd’s controversial play

“You have your gentle giant side, and then when you’ve got to flip the switch, you flip the switch,” the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Bozeman said, “and that kind of stuff is unacceptable. To do that to our premier quarterback is unacceptable.”

Then-Saints head coach Dennis Allen defended Shepherd’s actions. “Here’s a guy that’s trying to wrap the quarterback up. He’s on the ground, he has no idea whether the quarterback has the ball or not. He’s just trying to bring the quarterback down to the ground,” Allen said. “There was nothing malicious about that play. It’s a guy that’s trying to make the play. I went back and looked at that play again after seeing the comments and I don’t agree with that.”

Shepherd has registered 27 tackles and half a sack in 11 starts this year. He joined the Saints last season after spending his first five years with the New York Jets. In 101 career games, Shepherd has posted 181 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.