NFL Releases Fine Amounts For On-Field Infractions for 2015

If any Steelers player (are you reading this James Harrison) gets fined for something they do on the field in 2015, they can know just how much moolah they will owe.

Today the league and the NFL Players Association released the amount of money players will fined for on-the-field infractions for the 2015 campaign.

The NFL also announced details on how the appeals process will work going forward.

New fine amounts will go up five percent over 2014. Count it as inflation for the league not selling enough Johnny Manziel jerseys from last season after he tanked it and then went into rehab in February.

Basically truth be told the increase in the fines is stipulated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and continues until the current CBA expires.

Let’s say you touch an official or even go toe-to-toe in a fight with another player – your fine will go up about $1400 from a year ago. Last season the fine was $27,562, and in 2015 it’s up to $28,940.

If you earn a first offense for verbal or other nonphysical offense against an official, spearing, impermissible use of the helmet or hits on defenseless players will result in a first offense fine of $23,152.

As far as leg whips, horse collar tackle and roughing the passer penalties go (again hope you’re checking this out James), that will cost you $17,363.

Here’s a good one – if you curse at an opponent, official or EVEN FANS – you will owe a fine of $11,576. Basically in other words – watch your language.

So where does all that $ go? It is directed to the NFL Player Care Foundation and the Gene Upshaw Players Association’s Player Assistance Trust.

If you do get fined, you can request a hearing with the NFL. Cases are heard by former NFL linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks or Ted Cottrell. Once an appeal ruling has been decided, it is final.

Upon rejection of an appeal, the NFL collects the fine from the player’s next paycheck.

As far as the references to Harrison, he was hit with a total of $125,000 in fines back in 2010 for four hit-related infractions.

“We talk about the money like it’s Monopoly money sometimes just because these guys happen to be professional athletes,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said back in 2010.

“($100,000) is ($100,000), I don’t care how much money you make. I take offense at times just in general how all of us talk about the money. … He’s got two kids. That’s some serious college schooling right there potentially for those kids 16, 18 years from now.”

At the end of the day – stay out of trouble – or the league is going to come after your wallet. In a big way.