After being penalized $21,855 for lowering his helmet to initiate violent contact with an opponent in Week 9, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs remarked this week that the NFL “gotta chill with the BS.”
It didn’t work.
Jacobs has been penalized yet twice for the same offense. It’s also the same amount, $21,855.
It happened in the second quarter of the Jets’ game on Sunday night. And no flag was raised. As is frequently the case with such violations.
The rule is unambiguous. A player is not permitted to lower his helmet and ram it into an opponent. People may not like it, but it is the law.
Jacobs may also file an appeal against the fine. The NFL, which has announced all on-field fines for the first time this year, does not reveal the outcome of appeals.
Many appeals are successful. Those who have chosen to stand on a soapbox and whine about the fine process should bear this in mind. The entire procedure was devised by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. It includes hearing officers hired and paid jointly by the league and the union.
If Jacobs disagrees with the fine, he can file an appeal. He’ll win if he’s correct. If he’s wrong, the NFL hasn’t picked his pocket. He’s had the rules imposed on him.
