The NFL might let teams take a bye week, but the league sure isn’t taking one when it comes to dishing out fines. The Cincinnati Bengals found that out the hard way, getting hit with penalty letters for actions during their Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins. This wasn’t some quiet memo, either. The league dropped some serious cash demands on multiple players while the team was supposedly on break.
No Days Off For The Fine Patrol
You’d think a bye week would be a time to chill, recharge, and maybe avoid the league’s watchful eye for a minute. Nope. The NFL proved that fines keep rolling, no matter what’s on the schedule. Bengals tight end Erick All got stung with a $7,073 fine for an unnecessary roughness penalty he picked up in that Dolphins game. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re not even actively playing, knowing that hit from weeks ago is still costing you.
Battle’s Big Hit, Bigger Bill
But All’s fine was just the appetizer. Safety Jordan Battle got hammered with an even bigger penalty, a staggering $21,623 for illegal use of helmet. According to Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison, this was all about a specific hit, the kind that clearly caught the NFL’s attention. That’s a significant chunk of change, and it sends a pretty strong message about how serious the league is taking player safety rules, even when you’re winning games.
So, what’s next? You can bet your bottom dollar that these Bengals players are going to dive into the usual appeals process. It’s a common path for guys trying to get those steep fines reduced, and hey, it worked out for Ja’Marr Chase just last week. For now, though, the league has laid down the law, and it’s a stark reminder that every play, every hit, is under the microscope.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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