The Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins had a close game in Week 6, one that ended the Chargers squeaking out a 29-17 win, improving to 4-2 while the Dolphins dropped to 1-5.
In a game as close as that one was, tensions are typically running high, and sometimes, that can turn into heated moments on the field. Those moments often result in penalties, and sometimes, if the actions are bad enough, players even get fined.
That’s exactly what happened to Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart, who had a late hit on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that didn’t go unnoticed.
“Cheap shot from Teair Tart on Tua Tagovailoa,” Dolphins reporter Joe Schad noted during the game in a post on X. “Dolphins once cut Tart.”
Now, Tart is getting punished. Each week, the NFL penalizes players for conduct in the previous week’s games.
The NFL notes on their website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity, the NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed on a set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.”
In the NFL’s report for Week 6, Tart was slapped with a $17,389 fine for unnecessary roughness (late hit on the quarterback). That was one of the bigger fines of the week, too. The highest fines were handed to Tennessee Titans cornerback La’Jarius Sneed, who has to pay up $23,186 for unnecessary roughness (use of a helmet), and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen for a necessary roughness (blow to the head/neck).
In total, 21 NFL players got fined for their actions in Week 6 matchup. But those fines will go to a good cause.
According to the NFL, those fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”
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“If the discipline is upheld, the league withholds the amount of the fine from the player’s next check,” the NFL adds. “If the player’s fine is rescinded, he will receive notification of the decision, and no money will be taken from his check.”
The Dolphins are set to take on the Browns on Oct. 19 on the road.
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