When the NFL did not include Dallas defense end Dante Fowler on its weekly list of fined players for his part in last Monday’s pregame brawl between players from the Cowboys and Chargers, it was widely speculated that something more regarding the incident would still be coming.
That something came Sunday.
The league sent a memo to all 32 teams prior to the day’s early-game slate warning- with “no ambiguity or misunderstanding,” per the communication- that future instances of fighting either during or before games could result in harsh punishments, including ejections, fines, and/or suspensions without pay for players who participate in fights.
Teams were informed they could also be fined or even lose future draft picks for brawls like the one at SoFi Stadium that saw Fowler, Mazi Smith, Sam Williams, and other Cowboys get into a heated exchange with Chargers players during pregame warmups. Fowler was seen delivering a blow to L.A. running back Austin Ekeler that sent his helmet flying.
A similar fight occurred the day prior before the game between the 49ers and Browns. Bills and Giants players also mixed it up during their contest Sunday night. While four players from that in-game scuffle received fines, the Cowboys, Chargers, 49ers, and Browns personnel involved in their pregame fights appear to have avoided any punishment.
But it looks to be a one-time-only hall pass now that the league has laid down the law.
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“Sportsmanship and respect are at the core of NFL football, and fighting is irreconcilable with these values,” explains the memo, per ProFootballTalk. “Fighting is never acceptable, as it risks unnecessary injury to players, coaches, officials, and other game day personnel. These actions send an inappropriate and unacceptable message to players, coaches, and fans at all other levels of the game.”
The league says it will more strictly enforce warmup procedures before games, requiring teams to stay within their designated areas and not cross their own 45-yard-lines.
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