NFL legend brutally blasts the league for ‘stealing money’ on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s $43,709 fine

The Detroit Lions and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are having a fabulous season this year with consecutive wins. Except for the recent loss against the Green Bay Packers, who suddenly garnered attention with Jordan Love’s incredible performance, the team is getting stronger and has secured eight victories so far.

The Lions are now sitting in the top spot of the NFC North, with the Minnesota Vikings behind them. Besides the recent blow of the loss against the Packers, St. Brown has faced another setback by getting fined a big sum, and a former NFL icon didn’t shy away from criticizing the NFL for the large fine handed to the receiver.

JJ Watt blasts NFL over Amon-Ra St. Brown’s $43,709 fine

The debate over the NFL’s disciplinary fines has rekindled as Amon-Ra St. Brown faced one of the heaviest penalties in the league’s history. The NFL Players’ Union has earlier raised concerns regarding excessive and inconsistent fines imposed by the league. The recent uproar gained momentum when Watt took to social media to criticize the league’s punitive actions.

The ex-NFL star expressed his dismay on X, highlighting the ambiguity surrounding the imposition of fines. He questioned the fairness of extracting $43,709 from a player when determining fault remains unclear, per SI.com.

“Here we go again…General rule of thumb: If you have to watch the video multiple times to try figuring out which person did something wrong and you still can’t figure it out, we probably shouldn’t be taking $43,709 from someone. This. Is. Stealing. Money.”

Meanwhile, Watt’s rant on unusual fines continues as he condemned penalties for unnecessary roughness, emphasizing that while some fines are justified, others appear arbitrary.

“I’ve been on the other ends of these fines. I’ve gotten some of these fines. There’s some of them that have been legit – there’s no doubt about it,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

The former defensive end for the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals has also recently slammed the league for handing the Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs a $21,855 fine for unnecessary roughness. He was fined for “lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet”.

The league’s disciplinary actions against Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Jaylen Warren also drew Watt’s criticism. Warren faced a staggering $48,556 fine for a block against Los Angeles Rams’ player Michael Hoecht in Week 8. He also criticized the Baltimore Ravens’ star Patrick Ricard’s $21,694 fine for “unnecessary roughness.”

Why did the NFL fine Amon-Ra St. Brown?

Following the Week 11 Lions vs Bears clash, Amon-Ra St. Brown found himself at the center of controversy, facing a staggering $43,709 fine from the NFL. The penalty was imposed for a block he executed against Bears’ Jaquan Brisker, deemed “unnecessary roughness” by the league. This fine marked the largest amount handed out by the NFL that week, dwarfing the next closest fine of $16,391 issued to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith.

The block in question involved the Lions’ veteran lowering his helmet to initiate contact while blocking downfield for a run play. However, despite the league’s characterization of the play as “unnecessary roughness,” it was far from a violent act. The size of the fine came as a significant blow to the footballer as he expressed his dismay on social media. Talking to X, he lamented, “Almost 5% of my salary. I’m hurtingg.”

This substantial financial penalty somehow overshadowed Amon-Ra St. Brown’s commendable performance throughout the season. With 82 receptions for 993 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games, he has showcased his skill and contribution to the Lions’ offense. His statistics place him among the notable players in the league, trailing only behind the likes of Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, and Keenan Allen in yardage this season.

What’s your take on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s fine? Tell us in the comments.