22 October 2023 , 18:52
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The NFL sent a memo to teams warning of extreme new consequences for fighting after the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers threw punches at one another in a pregame scrap last Monday.
Cowboys defender Dante Fowler Jr. slammed the helmet off running back Austin Ekeler's head with an open-handed slap. There was also a fight between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers last Sunday and bad blood over a low hit between the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, part of an escalation in hostilities this year.
No suspensions have been announced for the incidents. The Ravens' Odell Beckham Jr. was fined $33,317, and the Titans' Jeffery Simmons was fined $11,473 for their roles in an in-game clash in London.
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According to ESPN, the league has now told organizations it can take away draft picks for egregious fighting incidents in addition to levying fines.
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"Fighting is never acceptable, as it risks unnecessary injury to players, coaches, officials, and other game day personnel," the memo reportedly says. "These actions send an inappropriate and unacceptable message to players, coaches, and fans at all other levels of the game."
"The game day policies [for staying apart during warmups] are clear on this point," the memo added. "They were reviewed with the membership at the Fall meeting and there should be no ambiguity or misunderstanding."
Teams must not trespass opponents' 45-yard lines during pregame warm-ups - a requirement many players have ignored lately, leading to conflict. The NFL will monitor stadium video footage to ensure teams are kept in their respective pregame zones.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has long emphasised the NFL's image, enforcing a wordy rulebook to project a squeaky-clean front. Detailed policies surrounding the dress code have already landed players in hot water in 2023.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was threatened with ejection from a game because he wore bright green cleats at the request of his daughter. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was fined twice for not wearing socks under his cleats.
Curbing fights is an even more serious matter for the NFL, which came away frustrated by some of the violent scenes that emerged last week. "Sportsmanship and respect are at the core of NFL football," the league office wrote to teams, "and fighting is irreconcilable with these values."
Similar rules exist in other American sports. The NBA, for example, is especially sensitive to fighting after the damaging "Malice at the Palace" incident saw players enter the stands to combat hostile fans. Since that fight happened, the NBA automatically suspends players for leaving the bench area during on-court altercations to prevent unseemly escalations.