NFL hands out largest fine to a player this season, yet the play didn’t result in a flag

The NFL passed out their largest fine to a unmarried player this season, yet there used to be no longer a flag thrown on the play. Atlanta Falcons fullback Keith Smith used to be fined $87,418 for pointless roughness towards the Detroit Lions in Week 3 (via NBC Sports). 

While a yellow flag used to be no longer thrown at the time, league decided Smith must be disciplined for his movements on the box.

The hit befell on the first play of the sport towards the Lions, with the Falcons kicking first. Here is a take a look at what went down:

Smith is noticed main together with his helmet as he blocked Lions’ operating again Zonovan Knight, who ended up on the flooring.

There continues to be a disparity between what’s penalized on the box and what finally ends up being fined, with this being considered one of the largest examples.

It used to be no longer the simplest Falcons fine that got here on a non-penalized play. Linebacker Kaden Elliss used to be fined $16,391 for pointless roughness for a third-quarter take on Lions’ receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Just like Smith’s state of affairs, there used to be no laundry on the box when the hit came about. 

The Lions went on to defeat the Falcons, 20–6, to toughen to 2-1 (they are now 3-1), whilst Atlanta fell to 2-1 with their first lack of the season.