NFL's Major Fines in 2012

SI Staff | Jan 2, 2013

NFL's Major Fines in 2012 /

NFL's Major Fines in 2012

Cam Newton

The Panthers quarterback was fined $31,000 -- $21,000 for making contact with an official and an additional $10,000 for kicking Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly.

Kareem Jackson

The Texans cornerback was fined $26,250 -- $21,000 for a high hit on Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright and $5,250 for wearing his socks too high.

Ed Reed

The Ravens safety was fined $55,000 for his high hit on Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. Reed struck Cruz in the head and neck area, and was penalized for the hit in the game.

Vince Wilfork

The Patriots defensive tackle was fined $30,000 for unnecessary roughness for striking Jaguars offenisve lineman Steve Vallos in the back of his head.

Chris Hope

The Falcons' strong safety was fined $30,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Giants receiver Victor Cruz. Hope was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the third-quarter play during Atlanta's 34-0 win in Week 15.

Von Miller

The Broncos' defensive end was fined $25,000 for his hit below the knee of Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman in Week 13. Miller was penalized for roughing the passer in the second quarter of the Broncos' 31-23 win over the Buccaneers. Miller was fined $21,000 in November for a similar infraction against Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.

Andrew Whitworth, Lamaar Houston, Desmond Bryant, Tommy Kelly and Matt Saughnessy

A brawl during the Bengals-Raiders game in Week 12 resulted in five players getting fined. After Raiders defensive lineman Lamarr Houston took a shot at Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton for a false start, the Bengals' Andrew Whitworth defended his teammate, and a fight erupted between Whitworth and Raiders Houston, Desmond Bryant, Tommy Kelly and Matt Saughnessy. Dalton said afterward that he appreciated Whitworth letting the opposing linemen know they couldn't take a cheap shot at the Bengals quarterback. Neither Bryant nor Shaughnessy were flagged on the play, but still received the $26,250 fine--the minimum for a first offense for fighting.

Ndamukong Suh

The Lions' defensive tackle was fined $30,000 for kicking Houston quarterback Matt Schaub during a Thanksgiving Day game in Week 12. After Suh was taken to the ground, his foot swung toward Schaub and hit him in the groin area.

DeAngelo Hall

The Redskins cornerback was fined $20,000 for a horse-collar tackle and $15,750 for a late hit during the Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys in Week 12. Hall was not penalized for either play during the 38-31 victory.

Ed Reed

One day after the NFL decided to suspend the Ravens' safety for "repeated violations" of player safety rules, appeals officer Ted Cottrell reduced the penalty to a $50,000 fine, the league announced. Cottrell held a telephone hearing, the morning of Nov. 20, involving both Reed and the NFL Players Association to review Reed's third helmet-to-helmet hit against a defenseless receiver in three seasons. The latest incident occurred on Sunday night of Week 11, when Reed was penalized for a hit on Steelers' wideout Emmanuel Sanders. In a letter to Reed, Cottrell wrote that the hit did not warrant a suspension, which would have cost Reed $423,529 in salary.

Brandon Spikes

The Patriots linebacker was fined $25,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 10.

Tamba Hali

The Chiefs linebacker was fined $25,000 for his helmet hit on Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in Week 10.

Terrance Knighton

The Jaguars defensive tackle was fined $25,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in Week 10.

Tim Dobbins

Houston linebacker Tim Dobbins drew a $30,000 fine for a high hit on Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler during the Week 10 Sunday night game. Cutler suffered a concussion on the play.

DeAngelo Hall

The Redskins cornerback was fined $30,000 by the league for an altercation with officials in his team's 27-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. The incident in question occurred near the end of the game, when Hall expressed frustration that Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders wasn't called for a post-play tussle. Hall took off his helmet and berated the head linesman of the game for not making a call. Hall insinuated that the official was firing back as well, saying he was "dishing it out just as much as I'm dishing it out."

Emmanuel Sanders and Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers and their wide receiver Sanders were fined a combined $50,000 for Sanders' actions in his team's 24-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. Sanders will pay $15,000 of the fine, while the Steelers will pay the remaining $35,000 to the league. The Steelers were in the midst of an an offensive drive in the fourth quarter of that game when Sanders fell to the ground, claiming he was suffering from cramps. However, the fact that Sanders seemed to be fully healthy on the previous play and the suddenness of his reaction aroused suspicion. By faking an injury, Sanders could stop the game clock without costing the Steelers a timeout.

Bill Belichick

The Patriots head coach was caught by cameras excoriating the officials for a large chunk of the game, and then trying to grab an official as everybody headed for the tunnel after the Patriots lost 31-30 against the Ravens in Week 3. Belichick insists he was trying to get clarification on a questionable ruling on the game-winning field goal, but he instead received a $50,000 fine.

Joe Mays

The Broncos linebacker received a one-game suspension and a $50,000 fine for a late hit on Texans QB Matt Schaub in Week 3. Mays came charging on a delayed blitz and struck Schaub with his helmet, which knocked Schaub's helmet off as well as a small piece of the quarterback's ear.

Kenny Phillips

The Giants safety was hit with a $30,000 fine for cracking a defenseless Vincent Jackson in New York's victory over the Buccaneers in Week 2. Though Phillips was not flagged by the replacement referees on the play, his fine was a bit heavier than most of his cohorts' fines because he is a repeat offender from last season. Phillips successfully appealed his fine.

John Fox

The Denver head coach was fined $25,000 along with defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio for continued abrasive treatment of the officials during Denver's Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Fox and Atlanta coach Mike Smith were seen actively voicing their displeasure throughout the game, but only Fox was fined. Del Rio was also punished for his brash behavior.

Kyle Shanahan

The Redskins offensive coordinator was fined $25,000 for chasing the referees into the tunnel and verbally berating them after the Redskins' 38-31 loss to the Bengals in Week 3. Redskins head coach (and Kyle's father) Mike Shanahan was visibly and vocally displeased with the officials during and after Washington's Week 2 loss to St. Louis. But it was Kyle who ended up losing his cool, sprinting after the officials after a controversial unsportsmanlike conduct call and subsequently launching a string of expletives at the crew.

Published Jan 2, 2013

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