The former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt has been in constant limelight due to his incredible athleticism. After hanging up his cleats after the 2022 NFL season, the former Defensive Player of the Year is a spectator of this season. Though the veteran might get swayed by Nick Bosa’s five-year, $170 million contract, he is not likely to take a U-turn again.
Watt is enjoying the 2023 NFL season and has been providing his insights about it on social media. However, the former football star seems unhappy with the league’s way of handing hefty fines to the players, and especially one fine from Week 8 made him lose his cool.
JJ Watt blasts NFL for “stealing” money
During the Baltimore Ravens vs the Arizona Cardinals Week 8 clash at University of Phoenix Stadium, the former team’s defensive lineman Patrick Ricard made a cut block tackle at the six-yard line which is not an illegal move. Nevertheless, he was slapped with a $21,694 fine for “unnecessary roughness.”
Like the whole NFL community, Watt found the fine unreasonable and took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to bash the league for their activity. He also claimed the league is “stealing money” from the players by imposing these fines.
“I will say it again… This is STEALING money from guys. These absurd fines for routine football plays have got to stop. Fines for intentfully malicious plays?
Absolutely. Taking $21,694 from a guy for this?! What are we doing. This is out of control.”
Meanwhile, this marks the second-time Watt slammed the NFL for the same reason. Days ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was slapped with a $48, 556 fine for a block against Los Angeles Rams star Michael Hoecht. Watt threw jabs at the league that time as well with the same claim of stealing money from the athletes in the names of fines.
Total of 31 fines were imposed in Week 8
The NFL charged 31 total fines to 27 players from 19 teams for on-field misbehavior in Week 8. The Arizona Cardinals Cameron Thomas ($6,495), Atlanta Falcons Jessie Bates ($21,855), as well as Jeff Okudah ($16,391), the Baltimore Ravens Patrick Ricard ($21,694), and Chicago Bears D’Onta Foreman ($43,709) were penalized for “unnecessary roughness”, via NBC Sports.
The other players penalized for this reason are the Washington Commanders Kamren Curl ($16,391), Tennessee Titans Christopher Hubbard ($7,306), Pittsburgh Steelers Damontae Kazee ($11,806 & $11,806), New Orleans Saints Carl Granderson ($10,927), New York Jets Jermaine Johnson ($10,927) as well as Quincy Williams ($11,473 & $13,333), Philadelphia Eagles D’Andre Swift ($9,857).
The Denver Broncos Zach Allen ($13,659) as well as Josey Jewell ($13,659) were charged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Meanwhile, Detroit Lions Jack Campbell ($14,871), Green Bay Packers Kingsley Enagbare ($5,170), Jacksonville Jaguars, Adam Gotsis ($7,167), Minnesota Vikings, D.J. Wonnum ($16,282), Pittsburgh Steelers T.J. Watt ($16,391), and Tennessee Titans Harold Landry ($16,391 & $16,391) were penalized for a hit on a quarterback.
What’s your take on these fines? Tell us in the comments.
