The NFL just dropped the hammer on several Bills players for their Week 5 game against the Rams, but the real talker has to be James Cook getting hit with a $21,167 fine for using his helmet. The wild part? That play wasn’t even flagged on the field. This whole situation is a massive reminder that the league’s eyes are always watching, even if the refs miss it in real-time.
Unflagged, But Not Unpunished: The Cook Fine
You’d think if a play wasn’t flagged, you’re in the clear, right? Nope, not for James Cook. The Bills running back was fined $21,167 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rams safety Kamren Kinchens. No flag, but the league still saw it and decided to lighten his wallet. This wasn’t an isolated incident either. Reportedly, there were six fines across the league for use of the helmet in Week 5 alone. That’s a huge number, and it screams that the NFL is absolutely not messing around when it comes to player safety, whether the whistle blows or not. Players have got to be keenly aware of how they’re hitting out there, because the cameras are catching everything.
Taunting and Striking: Other Bills Get Tagged
Cook wasn’t the only one feeling the pinch. Defensive end Bradley Chubb was dinged for $14,329 because of taunting Alaric Jackson on a false start penalty. Jackson, by the way, ended up hitting Chubb postgame and is now serving a one-game suspension for that. Then there’s safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who got hit with an $11,194 fine for striking, kicking, or kneeing. While the exact moment isn’t totally clear, he did have a sizable hit on a tight end in that game that drew a flag against the Rams. It’s not just the Bills getting these notices either, as Rams DE Brandon Fiske was fined $11,941 for a facemask against the Bills. Facemask calls drawing fines shows the league is looking at every angle of player conduct.
It’s clear the league is sending a message with these fines. Players gotta watch their actions out there, even when the refs miss it. These fines aren’t just a slap on the wrist, they’re a serious hit to the wallet, and it shows the NFL isn’t messing around with player safety and conduct anymore.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
Leave a Reply