Matthew Golden receives news he didn’t want to hear right ahead of Lions game in Week 7
Second-year wide receiver was fine by the NFL due to a taunting penalty against the Dallas Cowboys.
The NFL is willing to enforce taunting rules and punish players for it. Beyond a 15-yard penalty during the first quarter of the Green Bay Packers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, wide receiver Matthew Golden was fined $11,941 by the league.
Golden got a big reception and yards after the catch. After the play was over, the second-year wide receiver flexed his arms, and both the refs and the league determined it was a disrespectful towards the Cowboys defensive player.
That penalty and some other negative plays caused the Packers to need 109 passing yards to score a touchdown on the first drive of the game.
The Packers still won the game 23-13, and Matthew Golden had six receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Fines go for good causes around the football world
The NFL uses its fine schedule to outline the league’s and the NFLPA’s expectations for players. The rules are designed to protect players from unnecessary risk and emphasize sportsmanship, according to the league.
Player infractions can come to the league’s attention through several channels. The NFL may respond to an official’s call during a game or to a specific play a team submits for review. The league’s officiating department also reviews every play from every game and refers potential violations to the Football Operations Compliance Team.
The fines collected are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support legends in need and the NFL Foundation. Those funds further support the health and safety of athletes across all levels, including youth football, and the communities that support the game. Since 2011, about $4 million per year has been used to support those causes.
For the Packers, the major concern is that repeating offenders might get suspended later in the season. In Week 1, edge defender Lukas Van Ness and safety Evan Williams had been fined. In Week 2, the fined players were defensive tackle Chris McClellan and linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper.
