A $21,855 fine has angered former DPOY JJ Watt days after he had already expressed frustration over Lions’ WR Amon-Ra St. Brown getting penalized for similar reasons. JJ Watt is someone who has spoken up whenever he felt something was off. He understands exactly what these players are going through as he has been on the other side. So this isn’t the first time he’s pointing out the inaccuracy of the NFL. Exactly a month before, JJ Watt said that the league was basically “stealing money” from players. This time, he reminds the National Football League that “It’s Football!”
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With 6 minutes to go in the second quarter of this week’s game between the Eagles and the Giants, Saquon Barkley attempted to run through the right side of the defensive line as Shaq Leonard brought him down after a couple of yards. Seemingly a harmless play. But just a few days later, news breaks that this play actually ended up getting fined for $21,855.
As per the NFL, Barkley was using “unnecessary roughness on this play, where he apparently lowered his head to initiate contact”. Fans and ex-players alike do not appreciate their favorite sport being watered down like this. And agreeing with the fact that the NFL requires stricter safety precautions, it still doesn’t make sense to make the players pay for these issues. According to JJ Watt, this poses a two-pronged problem for the RBs:
This isn’t the first time he’s raising this concern. As mentioned, Watt expressed similar frustration when Detroit WR Amon-Ra St. Brown got fined:
Running Backs have been under the wrong kind of spotlight for a while now. It looks like there are very few avenues for them to actually make it in the league. Last year, the contract situation with running backs was one of the most heated topics of discussion. It was largely argued that due to the wear and tear that their bodies go through, they do not receive the due remuneration. And it all comes down to protecting themselves.
Fans are livid as well. Most of the fans on X were baffled and had to watch both these plays, again and again, to understand what exactly was happening that caused the NFL to fine these athletes five-figure sums.
NFL World Backs JJ Watt for Speaking Up Against NFL’s Fines
Most fans were backing Saquon Barkley and JJ Watt in this situation. They do not think such fines are necessary and water down the premium product that the NFL puts on the field every week:
The fines leave the NFL world perplexed and Saquon Barkley $20,000 lighter. The NFLPA should talk about this issue soon and at length. The 32-year-old NFLPA President, JC Treater, wrote on the issue, “By simply creating a new point of emphasis, the NFL can rack up hundreds of escalating fines on players.” He added, “This is an approach that does not make sense and is leading to money coming out of players’ pockets for things that, often, they are being coached to execute. In short, players feel this has become less about player safety and more about being overly punitive. ”
The NFL has to make a safer product. But safety and authenticity of the sport have to go hand in hand. Otherwise, as many fans believe, this sport might just turn into flag football in a few years.
