Three Dallas Cowboys defenders just got hit with a combined $46,883 in fines from the NFL following their brutal Week 8 loss to the Cardinals. But one of those infractions, a head-to-helmet shot by linebacker Rashan Gary, arguably cost the Cowboys the entire game, opening the door for an improbable Arizona comeback. This wasn’t just about the money, folks, this was about critical plays with massive consequences.
Rashan Gary’s $17,911 Mistake That Flipped the Script
Gary’s helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona quarterback Gardner Minshew was inexplicable, egregious, and incredibly costly in the game’s final minutes. It was the only one of these three incidents to actually draw a penalty flag during the game, and man, did it come at the worst possible time. The roughing the passer call completely wiped away a third-down incomplete pass, gifting the Cardinals a fresh set of downs on the Dallas 14 yard line. Minshew then connected for a touchdown on the very next snap, instantly making it a one-score game with just over two minutes left on the clock. That blown play opened the door for the Cardinals’ wildly improbable comeback, a comeback that ended with Arizona winning 33-30 in overtime. Gary himself told DLLS after the game, “I feel like I let the team down… I got to be smarter. It comes down to locking in and being consistent in those type situations. It’s really focusing and playing smart ball.” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he pulled Gary out and addressed the foul immediately, explaining to reporters, “RG is aware. It’s a big play in the game, but it’s not the only play in the game that affected the outcome of the game. But he was removed, and it was discussed.” While Schottenheimer is right that no single play defines a game, Gary’s fine of $17,911 pales in comparison to the impact of his on-field mistake.
Two More Fines and More Player Casualties
Adding insult to injury, safety P.J. Locke also got slammed with a $19,444 fine for an illegal helmet hit on Arizona running back Tyler Allgeier during overtime. Officials didn’t flag Locke for illegal use of the helmet during the game, but the league still came down hard. Locke left the field after the play, missed the final three snaps, and spent most of the week in concussion protocol. The good news is he’s been cleared to play in Week 9 against Indianapolis. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown also found himself in the league’s crosshairs, getting hit with a $9,528 fine for illegal use of the helmet. In the second quarter of that same Sunday game, he delivered a serious shot to the head of Cardinals running back Bam Knight. Replays showed Overshown tried to lead with his shoulder, but the head-to-head contact was significant. Knight not only fumbled on the play, giving the ball back to Dallas in the waning seconds of the first half, but he also suffered a concussion and couldn’t return to action. Knight remains in concussion protocol and will be sidelined in Week 9. This isn’t Overshown’s first rodeo with league fines either, as he was previously docked $9,527 for a late hit in Week 1’s loss to the Giants. These three fines push the Cowboys’ combined player fines through eight weeks of the season to a staggering $143,469.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
With Locke cleared for Week 9 against Indianapolis, the Cowboys will be looking to get back on track and, more importantly, stay out of the NFL’s fine office. Knight’s absence will definitely be felt by the Cardinals, highlighting the impact these kinds of hits have on player safety and team rosters. The league says these collected fines get donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety, and wellness of athletes, which is a good cause, but you gotta wonder if the message is truly sinking in for some of these players when the fines just keep piling up. Can the Cowboys clean up their act and play smarter football moving forward, or are these costly mistakes destined to keep haunting them? We’ll find out starting this weekend.
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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