The NFL is known for being a little overzealous when it comes to imposing fines on its players and coaches. Some have called the NFL the “National Fine League.”
But do players ever get fined by their teams for false starts or offsides penalties?
Well, not officially, but I’ll explain.
Teams are not allowed to impose fines arbitrarily because the NFL and NFL Players Association collectively bargained a very specific code of conduct, fine schedule, and procedure.
So, for a first offense, a player who throws the football into the crowd will be fined $7,017. He will be fined $21,056 for a first offense if he makes a horse-collar tackle, and so on.
Even though there are no such agreed-upon fines for false starts or offsides penalties, that doesn’t mean they don’t come with a cost;
Many teams have an unofficial kangaroo court that fines players for all kinds of infractions, ranging from the somewhat serious (on-field mistakes) to the downright silly annoyances and pet peeves. This court is especially popular among offensive linemen.
Without any further delay, let’s jump straight in!
Do NFL Players Get Fined for Penalties?
Whether NFL players get fined for penalties depends on what the flags were thrown for.
They’re not fined for minor technical/procedure calls (false start, illegal motion, delay of game, and the like) or even major ones like offensive holding.
However, personal fouls may well attract supplementary discipline (usually fines, but occasionally suspensions) – late hits, unnecessary roughness, helmet-to-helmet hits, horse-collar tackles, or hitting a defenseless receiver/QB in the head or knees.
The league regards those as detrimental to the game’s image and tends to come down hard on offenders, especially repeat ones.
Technically, ANY play can be submitted to the league office for review by either participating teams or the officiating crew. However, the vast majority tend to be the big ones – roughing the passer, helmet-to-helmet hits, unsportsmanlike conduct.
Lesser penalties like holding and pass interference are generally just part of the game, and no further action is taken.
Teams generally don’t fine their players for penalties, but if you commit too many penalties, you might get benched or lose your job entirely.
About teams fining players
Mark Schlereth, a former NFL guard, and his teammates engaged in a complex system of fining each other in Denver if they were ever mentioned by name in the press. At least, that’s how it began.
There were eventually penalties for practically everything.
If they resisted paying, it would just make it that much worse. Because if the players would complain about it, they’d find 20 other things to fine them on, and they’d start making stuff up.
The linemen would take all that fine money, which was in the thousands of dollars, at the end of the season, and have a lavish dinner in town.
When Nick Hardwick was a center for San Diego, a similar arrangement existed, and the Chargers would use that money for charitable purposes, which occasionally included a Christmas shopping spree for less fortunate children.
A $50 fine was imposed on rookies who failed to provide veterans with some kind of doughnut on Fridays. A false start or an offside costs about $10 per week but $50 on the weekends. A $100 holding fee was charged. A sack was also. The steepest were those.
Schlereth and Hardwick claimed that their offensive lines fined players who clapped their hands angrily after making an error.
Do Players or Teams Pay Fines?
Normally, money is deducted from a player’s game check. Players have the option of refusing to pay, and if the amount is more than 1/4 of a game check, they may appeal it down to that amount if it is their first infraction. Second offenses are half.
A player who receives a fine during the preseason but is cut from the final roster does not have to pay it until they are added to the active roster.
How much is the NFL fine for throwing a football into the stands?
The NFL has a rule prohibiting players from throwing or kicking footballs into the stands: The NFL doesn’t fine players for giving footballs away.
But all NFL players are fined $6,683 for the first offense and $13,369 for the second when they throw or punt a ball into the stands because of crowd safety issues.
NFL Fine Schedule and Appeals Process | NFL Football Operations
Back in the day, John Elway threw a football to a kid in a wheelchair who had been brought down to the front of the stands.
He was fined $1,000 (in 1985 money) and said, “I don’t care. The look on that kid’s face was worth it.” I’m sure most guys who throw footballs into the stands feel the same way.
What Does the NFL Do With Player Fines?
The NFL claims that all fine money is donated to charitable causes, including helping its retired players.
Ryan Clark, a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, publicly challenged the NFL to return fine money in the event of a player lockout. The NFL responded to Clark’s comments in a statement released in 2010.
They made it clear that all on-field fines go to the NFL Players Association Player Assistance Trust, a fund that aids the families of professional and amateur football players in times of need, and the NFL Player Care Foundation, which offers retired NFL players medical, emotional, and financial support. The funds may also be donated to a number of NFL-supported health and disaster relief organizations.
According to NFL Director of Community Affairs David Krichavsky in an interview with the AP in 2011, some players may even ask which charity receives their donation, but the league will “stay universal” in doing so.
Which NFL Players Have the Most Fines?
NFL players earn substantial salaries and are subject to significant fines for infractions. After all, if it doesn’t have a significant financial impact, it isn’t really a punishment.
The total amount paid by the 10 NFL players who have received the most fines throughout their careers (excluding suspensions) totals an astounding $7,118,594.
Dashon Goldson – $247,500 in fines overall
Three different helmet-to-helmet hits, a late hit, a hit to a player who was not defending himself, roughing the quarterback, and taunting have all resulted in fines for Goldson. Oh, and a $15,750 penalty for a uniform infraction as well.
Antonio Brown – $394,127 in fines overall
The Raiders fined Brown $215,074 for conduct that was harmful to the team in 2019; Brown has received fines for violations ranging from excessive celebrations and late hits nearly every season of his career.
Shaun Rogers – $400 000 in fines overall
Rogers received a fine from the NFL for breaching the personal conduct policy by bringing a handgun into an airport.
Vontaze Burfict – $461,244 in fines overall
The enormous fine amount imposed on Burfict serves as a reminder of the price of repeat offenses. He has received 11 fines for a long list of infractions, including hitting an opponent in the groin and lowering his helmet. He also received 11 fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and hitting an opponent in the head.
Ndamukong Suh – $516,154 in fines overall
Suh has accrued six penalties for roughing the passer and five for unsportsmanlike conduct throughout his career. The defensive tackle frequently used his foot, stomping on Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith in 2011 ($164,000 fine), Houston’s Matt Schaub in the groin in 2012 ($30,000 fine), and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers’ leg in 2014 ($70,000 fine).
Vic Beasley – $534,425 in fines overall
Beasley’s inclusion on this list might come as a surprise considering his lack of a lengthy list of fines and lack of reputation as a dirty player. But in 2020, the Titans fined him $500,000 for failing to report to camp (before trading him to the Raiders).
Kelechi Osemele – $570,588 in fines overall
Due to a 2019 dispute with the Jets over an injury, Osemele earned his fine. Because he thought he required surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, he declined to participate in a game. After Osemele had the procedure, the Jets released him.
It’s important to note that Osemele’s decision to boycott the game was serious. The doctors recommended surgery. The fact that Osemele could have overcome his injuries, according to the team, raises more serious issues regarding how the league treats its players.
Jamal Lewis – $760,000 in fines overall
Lewis was fined in 2004 after being accused of conspiring and having at least five kilograms of cocaine in his possession with the intent to distribute it. Lewis spent four months in federal prison following a plea agreement.
Kam Chancellor – $1,161,027 in fines overall
The majority of the Chancellor’s fine came from a $1,110,000 deduction made in 2015 for missing 37 days of training camp. Additionally, he was penalized for spearing, a late hit, and a hit to an unprotected receiver.
Adrian Peterson – $2,073,529 in fines overall
For breaking the league’s personal conduct policy in 2014, Peterson was penalized with three game checks. He was charged with felony child abuse after hitting his son, who was then four years old, with a switch.
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