The NFL slammed Raiders star Maxx Crosby with a whopping $23,882 fine for unnecessary roughness, topping a long list of Week 5 discipline. It’s a clear message from the league, especially after that illegal use of helmet penalty he got during the first quarter of their 45-17 loss to the Patriots. You saw the play, right? That wasn’t just a flag on the field, that was a direct hit to the wallet.
Helmet Hits Aren’t Going Unnoticed, Even Without a Flag
That $23,882 for Crosby came from an illegal helmet use incident. The league is seriously cracking down on head contact, and Crosby’s bank account felt it. But he wasn’t alone in getting dinged for dangerous helmet use. Bills running back James Cook also got hit with a $21,167 fine for using his helmet against the Los Angeles Rams. And get this: he wasn’t even flagged on the field for that one. It just goes to show you, the eye in the sky is always watching. In all, six players across the league got dinged for helmet use violations in Week 5. That’s a trend, not a fluke.
Dirty Plays, Taunting, and Postgame Punches: The Bill Is Due
Helmet hits weren’t the only thing costing players serious cash. Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick got a $17,911 fine for the hit that knocked out Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion. Fitzpatrick said it wasn’t dirty, but the NFL clearly disagreed. He also racked up another $11,941 fine for a facemask call in the same week. Ouch.
And what about that wild scene after the Bills-Rams game? Bradley Chubb of the Bills was fined $14,329 for taunting Rams’ Alaric Jackson, who then threw a punch at Chubb, leading to Jackson’s suspension. That’s just wild, postgame brawls are never a good look. Even across the pond, things got heated. The London game saw Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter fined $6,428 and Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. hit with $4,972 for their part in a fight after the opening kickoff. Seriously, after the *opening kickoff*?
Rounding out the league’s Week 5 bill, Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson got a $12,537 fine for a chop block. Bills player C.J. Gardner-Johnson was dinged $11,194 for striking, kicking, and kneeing, while his teammate Braden Fiske was fined $11,941 for a facemask. It’s clear the NFL is sending a message: clean up your act, or your bank account takes a hit. The league is watching, and it’s clear they’re not holding back on the wallets. Players better keep their heads up, and their hands to themselves, because those fines are stacking up fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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