With the NFL regular season beginning, that means more attention to the fines that will be levied against players for various infractions during games.
There will be even more scrutiny this year because of an agreement between the league and the NFLPA specifying certain offenses in which multiple violations will result in automatic suspensions: blindside blocks, hip-drop tackles, horse-collar tackles, hits on defenseless players and launching.
A one-game suspension will follow when three offenses occur in any category. Theoretically, a player could have two fines for each offense of those five, but not be suspended.
Players with only one violation all season in one of those five categories will have 50 percentof the fine returned when the season is
over.
Those that are fined only once for numerous other specific infractions (striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing, facemask, leg whip, late hit, use of helmet, roughing the passer, low block, chop block, taunting, football into stands) will have all of the fine refunded after the season.
Violations will carry over from one season to the next, but there is a clean slate for everyone this season.
In addition, fines during preseason games this year will not begin the tally on the scorecard.
A joint announcement by the NFLPA and the NFL said, “Player safety is a shared responsibility. These changes focus on the techniques that create the greatest risk while ensuring player, coach, and club accountability. Together, we believe this approach will continue to make the game safer for all players.”
In the three full preseason weeks there were 30 fines for a total of $194,375. There were no fines from the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
- Week 1: Nine fines for $62,624
- Week 2: 16 fines for $100,889
- Week 3: Five fines for $30,862
In the five categories above, there were six fines: Two each for a hit on a defenseless player and blindside block and one each for a hip-drop tackle and horse collar tackle.
The other fines were eight facemask infractions, six for use of helmet, five for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing and five for taunting.
Two fines totaled at least $10,000. Cleveland Browns tackle Tytus Howard was fined $12,537 in Week 1 for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing and Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Oluwafemi Oladejo was fined $10,625 for a facemask infraction in Week 2.
Three Cardinals players were fined in their game against the Dallas Cowboys. Two were in one of the five verboten categories — hits on defenseless players.
- Safety Dadrion Taylor Demerson, $7,148
- Rookie safety Wydett Williams Jr., $4,935
- Rookie linebacker Karson Sharar $5,372 for use of the helmet
Taylor-Demerson was penalized in the first quarter for a hit on Cowboys tight end Zack Kuntz on an incomplete pass. He injured his ribs on the play.
The fine for Williams came on a seven-yard pass play to Cowboys wide receiver Camden Brown in the second quarter. He was not penalized.
Sharar’s came on the opening kickoff for a hit on running back Phil Mafah. He was also not penalized.
Two opponents were fined during games against the Cardinals.
Cowboys running back Malik Davis was fined $6,735 for use of the helmet on a five-yard run in the first quarter. The tacklers on the play were Sharar and linebacker BJ Ojulari, but there was also no penalty called.
In Week 1, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was guilty of striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing in the second quarter during a play in which running back Jeremiyah Love gained eight yards. Eichenberg was flagged for a penalty on the play.
Appeals of fines are heard by former players Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson and James Thrash. Added to the panel this year is former player and coach Ron Rivera. That results in two offensive and defensive players that will decide the appeals. Individual players are assigned to one of the appeals officers.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 3 Arizona Cardinals players fined in preseason
