Every week, it seems like the on-field officials and the NFL’s disciplinary department are like two halves of a tortilla that just can’t come together on what makes a hit illegal. Today, the NFL gave Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb a no-nonsense wake-up call.
A Costly Lowered Shoulder: CeeDee Lamb’s Unexpected Fine
This Sunday, at the end of the first quarter in the battle against the Ravens, Lamb caught a pass and turned upfield like he was Aladino rubbing his magical lamp. It was a play straight out of a football highlight reel. As he charged forward, he lowered his shoulder and connected with Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton‘s chest using the top of his helmet—like a bull charging in the plaza de toros.
From the stands, it appeared to be a textbook, clean play. The referees on the field didn’t throw a flag; not a single pañuelo amarillo touched the turf. Yet, come Monday, the NFL hit Lamb with a hefty $22,511 fine for what they deemed “Unnecessary Roughness (use of the helmet)”. Ay caramba! Talk about a hard lesson learned off the field.
Snowball Effect: Other Fines in Week
Lamb’s wallet isn’t the only one feeling lighter this week. Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs also got a hefty bill from the NFL for a similar head-first offense. Like Lamb, Jacobs wasn’t flagged during the game, but the league’s disciplinary committee didn’t let it slide.
This begs the question: are the officials and the discipline department playing from different playbooks? While the refs let these plays continue like a hot knife through mantequilla, the league office swoops in post-game like an avenging condor, dishing out fines.
Irony and Humor: The Never-Ending Saga of NFL Fines
What’s the moral of this football fable? Well, it seems like the league wants its players to dance through the defensive line like they’re doing a salsa, avoiding any head-first hits. But in the heat of the moment, with the adrenaline flowing and the end zone in sight, that’s a tough ask. And so, we find ourselves in this never-ending novela where players get blindsided by fines long after the game’s final whistle.
CeeDee Lamb and Josh Jacobs learned this week that clean play on the field doesn’t always mean a clean slate with the league office. Let’s see if the league and the officials can ever find harmony; porque así es el fútbol! And until they do, players better keep their heads—and helmets—up.
Stay tuned for more twists and turns in this thrilling season of NFL football.
