The NFL decided *not* to fine Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Mason McCormick for absolutely slamming Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse to the turf in Week 8. You read that right: no fine, according to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, even after the play earned McCormick a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. This went down after an extra-point attempt during Pittsburgh’s 27-6 victory, with McCormick grabbing Verse mid-air and forcefully throwing him to the ground.
Verse Was NOT Happy, But the League Didn’t Care
Jared Verse did *not* hold back after the game, voicing his displeasure with McCormick’s move. He even called out his own teammates for not stepping up and defending him, but apparently, none of that was enough to sway the league’s decision-makers. It’s a wild twist, especially considering Verse’s strong words before the game. The 26-year-old defensive end straight-up said he wasn’t “worried about their [offensive] line” and claimed the Browns were gonna make “Pittsburgh ours.” Well, that clearly didn’t happen, and getting body slammed with no consequence for the guy who did it? Oof.
The Fine Line: Who Gets Tagged and Who Walks Free?
This non-fine for McCormick is even crazier when you look at the bigger picture from Week 8. The NFL levied a whopping 31 fines that week, marking the second-highest total for any single week this season. Plenty of guys got dinged, including McCormick’s own teammate, Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker, who got slapped with a $17,911 fine for a hit to the head on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. And it wasn’t just Pittsburgh. Three Browns players , Tyson Campbell, Quinshon Judkins, and Sam Williams , each copped fines for either unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness. So, the league was clearly cracking down, but somehow McCormick’s forceful takedown didn’t make the cut. Does that feel right to you?
AFC North Just Got Flipped
Beyond the controversy, this game was huge for the AFC North. The Browns had actually entered Week 8 sitting atop the division thanks to tiebreakers. But that 27-6 loss sent them tumbling down to third. Meanwhile, the Steelers, who came in looking to avenge their 27-24 loss against Cleveland from Week 4, moved right into first place with a solid 6-2 record. So, Pittsburgh got their revenge, took over the division, and their guy who laid out a star defensive end didn’t even get a fine. Talk about a statement win, in more ways than one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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