Bell toll: Seahawk gets record fine

Although it was reported this week that Denver Broncos cornerback Deltha O'Neal's $15,000 fine for bumping an official was the largest of the season, the league actually levied a much higher fine the same day for a similar violation.

The NFL Today and SportsLine.com have learned the league this week fined Seattle Seahawks starting linebacker Marcus Bell a stunning $25,000 for decking an official at the end of a play in last Sunday night's Seattle-Minnesota game.

On the play, Vikings running back Michael Bennett scampers though the middle of the Seahawks defense for a modest gain. A moment after he hits the ground, Bell can be seen in video playbacks flying in from the top of the screen and leveling official Carl Madsen.

The official was sent flying past the pile but did not drop a flag because he was unaware of who had hit him. The league's officiating office caught the culprit when they reviewed the game film this week and were angered by the fact Bell extended his arms on the official. From one view it appears Bell is simply trying to stop at the end of the play. Another view, however, shows Bell plowing into the official and extending his arms to throw Madsen out of his way.

"You cannot put your hands on an official and then throw him out of the way with your arms extending," one league official said. "He had no chance at the play and the back was down. That was a pretty bad one."