Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gestures to an official after a play against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs’ Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes fined $150K for criticizing refs

The NFL slapped Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes $150,000 total in fines for their criticism of the officials after last week’s 20-17 lost to the Buffalo Bills, ESPN and NFL Network reported Saturday.

Reid was fined $100,000 and Mahomes $50,000, per the reports.

Mahomes was apoplectic after referees called a rare offsides penalty on wide receiver Kadarius Toney, which negated a 49-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:12 remaining in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Reid termed the call “a bit embarrassing” on Sunday because he was not given what he said was the usual warning from the lead official to the head coach about alignment issues, including offensive offsides.

Mahomes ripped officials to anyone who would listen, including Bills quarterback Josh Allen during their postgame handshake on the field.

“Another game, we’re talking about the refs. It’s not what we want for the NFL. It’s not what we want for football,” said Mahomes.

But Reid walked back his comments a day later after Toney, who was clearly offside, failed to check with the side judge to confirm he was lined up correctly.

On the play in question, Mahomes hit tight end Travis Kelce for a big gain and Kelce threw a legal overhand lateral to Toney. Toney, who caught the ball at the Bills’ 25, sprinted into the end zone before the Chiefs noticed the flag dropped at the line of scrimmage for offensive offsides.

The TD would’ve given the Chiefs a 23-20 lead pending the extra point.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33) talks with a teammate during training camp practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Seahawks’ Jamal Adams fined $50K for actions toward concussion doctor

The NFL fined Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams $50,000 this week for “verbal remarks” and “inappropriate physical contact” with an independent concussion doctor during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, CBS Sports and the Seattle Times reported.

The league sent Adams a letter saying he “interfered with orderly administration of the game when the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC) was walking with Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo to the blue medical tent for evaluation of a concussion,” according to CBS Sports.

Bobo had caught a 20-yard pass in the third quarter and was hit hard by Bengals safety Dax Hill, resulting in a penalty. Bobo was evaluated and returned to the game.

The media reports said league sources indicated that Adams’ previous incident with a concussion doctor during an Oct. 2 game against the New York Giants was not a factor in the fine.

Adams sustained a concussion in that contest, his first game back since Sept. 12, 2022, when he tore his quad and was lost for that season. Appearing frustrated about being removed, he shouted at the red hat, whose sole job is to identify possible concussion injuries and get those players out of the game. Final decisions are made by the team doctors and trainers.

But after looking at video of Adams’ interaction with the doctor, as well as hearing his apology, the NFL declined to fine or otherwise punish Adams.

Adams, 28, appeared wobbly when getting up after the tackle of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and was taken to the medical tent on the Seahawks’ sideline. Adams was taken back to the locker room for tests and subsequently ruled out for the rest of the game by the team.

Adams later apologized to the unnamed doctor via social media.

“You did everything right when you realized I was concussed, I apologize for any negative energy I brought your way,” Adams wrote on Twitter.

“Watching the replay, I am thankful for your patience knowing I wasn’t myself in that moment. You’re a real one and you serve a great purpose that benefits the NFL and so many players. Prioritizing player’s health is essential. Much respect to you.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) celebrates on the sideline after catching a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy fined over $36K by NFL

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was fined a total of $36,281 by the NFL for his actions during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

Per reports, Jeudy was fined $23,020 for making contact with a game official and $13,261 for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing his helmet while on the playing field.

Jeudy, 23, was not penalized for either infraction during the Broncos’ 34-28 loss to the Chiefs. He told reporters that he was upset after being held on a previous play.

“I know they’re going to fine me,” Jeudy said Wednesday. “It is what it is. I know the consequences of the situation and I’m going to learn from it.”

Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters that he had spoken with Jeudy after the outburst.

“I went to address it right away and talk with him,” Hackett said. “He definitely knew that he was wrong. That’s unacceptable. You can’t do that. We’ve addressed that and I know that he knows he can’t do that. I know he was very frustrated at the time, but that’s just something you can’t do.”

Jeudy scored three touchdowns on Sunday to boost his total to a career-high six on the season. He also has 42 receptions for 587 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers fans storm the field after LSU defeated the Mississippi Rebels at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

LSU fined $250K for fans storming field

The Southeastern Conference fined LSU $250,000 on Sunday because the school’s fans stormed the field after Saturday’s 45-20 victory over then-No. 7 Ole Miss.

The violation was LSU’s third of the policy. The school’s most recent violation had been after a win over then-No. 2 Georgia in 2018.

In a news release, the SEC said that the policy stated that “access to competition areas shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly-credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area. It is the responsibility of each member institution to implement procedures to ensure compliance with this policy.”

Fines start at $50,000 for a first offense, up to $100,000 for a second offense and up to $250,000 for a third and any subsequent violations.

The fine comes one week after the SEC fined Tennessee $100,000 for its fans rushing of the field after an upset win over then-No. 3 Alabama. Tennessee fans took the goalposts and deposited them into the nearby Tennessee River.

LSU (6-2, 4-1 SEC) was unranked prior to the win over Ole Miss. It is now ranked 18th.

–Field Level Media

Jun 15, 2022; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith looks on during drills at minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Report: NFL fines Texans’ Lovie Smith $50K for prohibited drills

The NFL fined Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith $50,000 after learning that his offensive and defensive linemen engaged in prohibited one-on-one drills, ESPN reported on Friday.

The Texans held their mandatory minicamps this week under the direction of Smith, who was hired as the team’s coach in February.

Smith, 64, spent the 2021 season as the Texans’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator under David Culley, who was fired after Houston went 4-13 in his only season.

Friday’s news comes on the heels of the NFL reportedly fining Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera $100,000 and stripping the team of two organized team activity practices in 2023 for conducting practices with excessive contact in spring sessions.

The league also reportedly pushed back at the Dallas Cowboys and coach Mike McCarthy for getting too physical in their organized team activities for a second consecutive year.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arians to appeal $50K fine for slapping own player

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said he will appeal a reported $50,000 fine from the NFL for slapping the helmet of one of his own players in Sunday’s wild-card game.

Arians incurred the fine, first reported by NFL Network on Wednesday, after smacking Tampa Bay safety Andrew Adams in the defending champions’ 31-15 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’ll appeal it,” Arians told reporters Wednesday. “It ain’t got nothing to do with the game, so we’re good.”

The incident occurred in the third quarter during a scrum near the Bucs’ sideline. The Eagles’ Jalen Reagor fumbled on a punt return and Tampa Bay recovered it in the ensuing pile.

Arians went after Adams to make sure he didn’t pull other players off the pile, which would have drawn a penalty. Arians slapped Adams in the helmet and followed with an elbow to the shoulder.

The incident sparked a lot of activity on social media. But Arians was unmoved when asked about it Monday.

“I’ve seen enough dumb — you can’t pull guys out of a pile,” he said. “We just got a big play, great field position, and he’s trying to pull a guy out of a pile, and I was trying to knock him off of that guy so he didn’t get a penalty.”

Adams is mostly a special teams player for the Bucs. He played 82 percent of the special teams snaps against the Eagles.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys Trevon Diggs (L) and Amari Cooper (R) pose on the field after the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the 2021 Cotton Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Report: NFL fines Cowboys WR Amari Cooper for violating protocol

The NFL fined Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper more than $14,000 on Thursday for violating the COVID-19 protocol as an unvaccinated player, ESPN reported.

Cooper was docked $14,650 for attending a Dallas Mavericks game on Jan. 5 without a mask.

Cooper, who missed two games in November after a positive test, is unvaccinated. He attended the NBA game with CeeDee Lamb, but Lamb is vaccinated and isn’t subject to the same rules as Cooper.

Specifically, this one: “A player who is not fully vaccinated is prohibited from attending a professional sporting event unless he is seated in a separated seating section, such as a suite or owner’s box, is wearing PPE, and there are no more than 10 people in that separate seating section.”

Cooper defended his actions during an interview last week on 105.3 The Fan.

“When I do go somewhere, I mean, I was pictured not wearing a mask, but that’s because I was eating and drinking. I don’t know how to do that with a mask on. So I just think there’s risk all across the board. I don’t feel like anybody is staying home, you know what I mean? Am I supposed to just sit in the house all day?” Cooper said.

“I don’t really understand how to be extra careful because just by us going to practice every day, being around each other, we have teammates on our team who have kids. They take their kids to school who are around hundreds of other kids, who are around their parents when they go home, so forth and so on,” Cooper went on. “So I don’t feel like we can be safe in the environment that we’re in. I feel like the only way we can be safe is if no one goes out and everybody is quarantining for an extended amount of time.”

Cooper, 27, caught 68 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games this season for the Cowboys, who host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC wild-card game Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2021; Landover, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa (97) sprints down the sidelines prior to the Chargers' game against the Washington Football Team at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Chargers’ Joey Bosa fined nearly $29K for outburst

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa received a $28,917 fine from the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct toward officials during Monday’s 28-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Per the NFL Network on Saturday, the fine stems solely from Bosa’s on-field confrontation with officials late in the fourth quarter.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection took issue with what he deemed to be a missed holding call. His subsequent outburst resulted in a 15-yard penalty and first down.

Bosa, 26, didn’t hold back with his comments after the game.

“I didn’t even know they called the (expletive) penalty on me because I was fuming,” Bosa told reporters Monday. “But, I mean, refs are blind, simple. I’m sorry, but you’re blind, like open your eyes and do your job. It’s so bad it’s unbelievable.”

Bosa didn’t stop there.

“Fifteen yards, it’s a big deal,” he said. “Obviously that’s on me. I should never lose my temper like that, but these guys have got to do a better job because it’s been years of terrible missed calls left and right. It’s really pathetic, honestly, but pathetic on me too for doing what I did. Call or not, I have to take a step back and just go to the next play, but, man, they seem not to have their eyes open half the time.”

–Field Level Media