OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith won his appeal Tuesday for unnecessary roughness on Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin and had his $16,883 fine rescinded by NFL hearing officer Jordy Nelson, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The ruling comes 18 days after the NFL disciplined Smith for what a league source told ESPN's Jenna Laine was a hip-drop tackle, which resulted in Godwin suffering a season-ending dislocated left ankle.
Under league rules, a hip-drop tackle must involve three criteria: the tackler grabs the ball carrier with both hands or wraps him with both arms; unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body; and then lands on and traps the opponent's leg(s) at or below the knee.