Saquon Barkley was fined a staggering $45,020 by the NFL for crashing his helmet into a defender in what everyone but the NFL says is a completely ridiculous judgment.
Saquon Barkley and Maurice Hurst, a defensive tackle for the Browns, collided last week during the Eagles’ Week 6 matchup with the Browns. Although both players lowered their helmets, Barkley was the only one given a heavy punishment for his hit; he did not get a penalty on the field.
Saquon Barkley, a running back for the Eagles, was fined $45,020 by the NFL for using his helmet in an unnecessary manner during this play.
Players and spectators have had differing opinions about the NFL’s increased penalties for helmet-to-helmet collisions in an effort to reduce the number of concussions. While it makes sense that the league is doing all in its power to safeguard its players, it becomes quite infuriating when penalties differ for essentially the same offense. Barkley’s fine is simply the most recent example of the league’s growing incapacity to strike a balance between post-game league penalties and on-field choices.
Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, is getting close to recovering from a concussion he sustained this season. Even though the NFL is more conscious than ever of the problem of head injuries, Barkley’s punishment seems excessive because the play did not result in any injuries. As the league places a greater emphasis on player safety, the distinction between safeguarding and overpolicing is becoming more and more blurred.
Barkley received a hefty fine—the most this season for an incident involving a helmet—but it also brought into question the NFL’s impartiality and consistency in imposing such penalties. Concussion prevention is vital, but it’s perplexing to have athletes pay for acts that aren’t even punished on the field. Both players and fans are left wondering: where does football aggression end and needless roughness begin?