Annoying NFL trend is costing players a ton of money
The NFL has a problem it created on its own accord: Fines are out of control in 2023 and they're getting more ridiculous with each passing week. The league handed out its weekly rounds for Week 8 infractions on Saturday and there were some awful decisions that cost many players a lot of money. The […]
The NFL has a problem it created on its own accord: Fines are out of control in 2023 and they're getting more ridiculous with each passing week.
The league handed out its weekly rounds for Week 8 infractions on Saturday and there were some awful decisions that cost many players a lot of money. The most blatant of all was Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift's "infraction" that cost him $9,857.
Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard was fined over $21k for the following block. It's clear the NFL views this as helmet-to-helmet, but this happens all the time as players attempt to block one another. To fine him more that amount, for this play, is egregious.
And lastly, Ravens wideout Odell Beckham Jr. was fined for the following block:
Per Spotrac, the NFL called out 151 infractions that totaled $6,873,157 in 2022. However, $5 million of that belonged to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for a conduct detrimental to the league violation. So, it was more like $1,873,157 across 150 infractions was handed out last year.
This year, the league has already tallied 202 infractions totaling more than $2.9 million.
It's clear the NFL has an agenda this year and while a lot of it is rooted in player safety – this isn't the way to go about it. Hitting guys in their pockets certainly sends a message, but is it really going to improve things? The players need clear, succinct direction on how to ensure they are playing the game "properly" and taking money away from them isn't giving them all the information they need.
The NFL has its players' attention, but now it needs to do the right thing and guide them to the point where improvement and progress can actually be made instead of repeating the same ineffective process over and over again.
