NFL ensures two Cincinnati Bengals linebackers start the offseason in terrible moods
The Cincinnati Bengals are already watching the playoffs from home, and two of the team's veteran leaders on defense are beginning the offseason facing hefty punishments. Linebackers Akeem Davis-Gaither and Germaine Pratt were fined $14,956 and $22,511, respectively, for unnecessary roughness last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Davis-Gaither was charged with using a hip-drop tackle on […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are already watching the playoffs from home, and two of the team's veteran leaders on defense are beginning the offseason facing hefty punishments.
Linebackers Akeem Davis-Gaither and Germaine Pratt were fined $14,956 and $22,511, respectively, for unnecessary roughness last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Davis-Gaither was charged with using a hip-drop tackle on tight end Pat Friermuth. Pratt was cited for use of his helmet against running back Najee Harris. Both instances occurred during the fourth quarter of Cincinnati's 19-17 win.
Davis-Gaither was one of three defenders this week to be fined for a hip-drop tackle. Carolina Panthers edge defender Jadeveon Clowney got docked the most at a whopping $16,883.
Pratt's fine was tied for the largest from Week 18 as Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Steelers wide receiver George Pickens were also hit with the same amount. Pickens was cited for grabbing cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt's facemask in the fourth quarter.
All fines can be appealed, and a couple Bengals have recently found success with that process. Running back Chase Brown got back over $5,000 after initially being fined for jumping into the Salvation Army kettle in AT&T Stadium after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
Fortunately for both Davis-Gaither and Pratt, they're playing on veteran salaries and can absorb their fines a lot easier than Brown could've. Davis-Gaither's salary paid him a little over $66,000 per game and he got about $50,000 in the form of roster bonus for every game he played. Pratt made approximately $188,235 from his base salary and earned an around another $15,000 for every game he played this year.
These are the last fines the Bengals have to deal with for the 2024 season.
Bengals 2025 Impending Free Agents: Complete list of all 23 players with expiring contracts
Cincinnati’s offseason begins now.
