Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia received an $11,111 fine from the NFL for a facemask penalty from Week 5, a brutal bit of news dropped right before their “Sunday Night Football” showdown against the Green Bay Packers. This team is sitting at a shaky 2-3, having just gotten clobbered by the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so focus is everything right now.
Another Costly Mistake for the Already Struggling Cowboys
The league officially announced its full list of Week 5 punishments on Saturday, and Ogbonnia’s name was right there. He got dinged $11,111 for unnecessary roughness, specifically a facemask penalty that went down at 9:13 in the second quarter. The NFL’s website says players get a letter explaining what they did, a video of the play, why they’re fined, and how much it’ll cost them. No doubt Ogbonnia’s letter showed him grabbing the facemask of Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving.
What makes this even worse for the Cowboys is it’s a double whammy. Not only is he getting fined now, but officials already flagged Ogbonnia for that facemask infraction during the game. That hit the Cowboys with a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the Bucs. So yeah, the mistake already cost them on the field, and now it’s costing Ogbonnia in his wallet.
Not the Biggest Hit, But Still a Major Pain
Now, to be fair, Ogbonnia’s fine isn’t the absolute worst the league handed out this week. Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders got the biggest punishment, a $23,882 fine for unnecessary roughness involving the use of the helmet. That’s more than double what Ogbonnia’s dealing with. But seriously, who wants to get disciplined by the NFL, especially when your team is teetering on the edge of a bad start?
The Cowboys absolutely need to stay locked in for this Packers game. They’re 2-3, just lost to a team that literally hadn’t won all season, and now they’re heading into a “Sunday Night Football” spotlight. Both the offense and defense have to come out ready to play their absolute best football.
So, as the Cowboys gear up for their “Sunday Night Football” clash with the Packers, every single player, especially on defense, needs to be dialed in. They can’t afford any more unnecessary flags, or distractions like this. Let’s see if they can shake off the penalty woes and turn this season around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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