Something has to change.
The NFL is cracking down on behaviour and actions it does not agree with, but sending the wrong message.
As a concept that is fine, and even in practice punishing those who breaks the rules is the correct approach.
But after Week 4 of the 2024 season, the severity of the fines handed out seem to suggest that the league is targeting the wrong issues.
Take this incident from the Bills-Ravens game on Sunday Night Football, where Buffalo’s DE Dawuane Smoot intentionally puts a knee into the helmet of Ravens FB Pat Ricard while he is sat on the floor.
The NFL fined #Bills DE Dawuane Smoot $8,156 for unnecessary roughness — kneeing #Ravens FB Pat Ricard in the chin after a play last week. pic.twitter.com/vO8KQ5Y1iM
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 5, 2024
Punish Smoot? Absolutely. But it is the level of the punishment which has me scratching my head.
Behaviour like that shown from Smoot has no place in the sport, or any sport for that matter.
However, the NFL has opted to fine Smoot less for that transgression than Nico Collins, who – no matter how many times I watch this clip – seems to be simply bracing himself for strong contact.
Does Collins’ helmet make contact with the helmet of the Jaguars defender. But both players brace from impact by lowering into the contact, a very natural reaction.
The NFL also fined #Texans WR Nico Collins $22,511 for unnecessary roughness/use of helmet on this play. pic.twitter.com/U191e3lji2
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 5, 2024
If you think that is the end, you would be mistaken.
No more ‘finger guns’
It seems the NFL’s number one priority at the moment is to stop players celebrating while using their fingers to imitate the firing of a weapon.
To be clear, I am not for one second suggesting that the pretend use of guns to celebrate is acceptable.
However, should the punishment for doing so be almost twice as severe as intentionally kneeing a player in the face?
The NFL fined #Jets WR Allen Lazard $14,069 for a violent gesture — his double #fingagunz celebration last week.pic.twitter.com/3uTei3PLNB
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 5, 2024
Allen Lazard was not the only recipient of such a fine in Week 4. CeeDee Lamb, Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor and Jeremy McNichols each notched up fines totalling over $45,000.
Stopping players from using the ‘finger guns’ celebration is a rule which I understand. However, the fines handed out suggest the NFL is unperturbed when it comes to preventing violent conduct.
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