The NFL’s fine system can be confusing, especially with the very specific amounts they assign for punishments.
On Sunday, Rams receiver Puka Nacua threw a punch, which led to his ejection from the game.
Later, he was fined $5,424.
It’s odd that an action that results in such a small fine would also lead to an ejection. Other actions, like taunting, can also lead to fines, but they don’t usually result in a player being thrown out of the game.
As discussed on Monday’s PFT Live, the NFL should think about re-evaluating how they handle ejections. There’s a lot of inconsistency, like when Lions safety Brian Branch was ejected for an illegal hit on a defenseless player, but Panthers safety Xavier Woods wasn’t for a similar action.
Ejections could also affect betting on the game, as it changes the outcome unexpectedly.
For example, players have been known to throw punches without being ejected, but when Nacua did it, he was sent off. This could impact things like prop bets.
Instead of automatically ejecting a player, why not consider a suspension for bad behavior? And if an act like throwing a punch only results in a fine of $5,424, why eject the player at all?
A suspension process is slower and gives the player a chance to appeal, while ejections happen quickly with no review or oversight.
There should be a clear line for what kind of behavior is unacceptable, but that line needs to make sense. Since the league is the one that handles ejections, it’s important that the process is clear and applied fairly every time.
