Before Week 15 fully got underway, the NFL was hard at work for last week’s action. In particular, a plethora of fines made the rounds for various altercations throughout the league. Whether it was risky plays or downright dangerous ones, the NFL was quick to put its foot down.
Some, however, were met with questions, while others were directly criticized. One fine in particular, made on Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, was a major source of pushback online. An NFL legend, too, got into the thick of things, calling out the league’s decision.
JJ Watt Calls Out Fine on Isiah Pacheco
In the second quarter, Pacheco caught a pass near the right sideline from quarterback Patrick Mahomes inside the Chiefs’ own 5-yard line. Trying to gain some extra yards after the reception, Pacheco plowed ahead.
However, just before a collision with the Los Angeles Chargers defender, Pacheco’s head came down a fraction. As a result, the NFL assessed an unnecessary roughness call on the play with a fine of $45,020. Due to his original seventh-round draft selection, the amount was nearly 4.5% of Pacheco’s $1,004,777 salary without accounting for tax deductions.
The seemingly harmless play netting such a huge fine didn’t sit right with fans and legends alike, including JJ Watt, a former three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Taking exception to the situation and signaling out the entire scenario, Watt thought the play was completely legal and just “playing football.” He spoke about how the potential conversation for the fine would have played out.
“‘We’d like to pay you to play football.’ Plays football. ‘Actually we’re going to take some of that money back.’ For what? ‘Playing football.'”
“We’d like to pay you to play football”
Plays football.
“Actually we’re going to take some of that money back.”
For what?
“Playing football” https://t.co/DhsZiq9xIv
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 14, 2024
The seemingly normal play, combined with the extravagant amount, made the situation even more egregious. While the NFL isn’t likely to change its ruling, it should make players wary of any future transgressions.
In addition to Watt, a number of fans took to social media to lodge their complaints regarding the massive fine.
“This is so bush league from the NFL. Pacheco makes about a million dollars this season, before taxes. So the NFL just fined him about 7-8% of his take home pay,” one fan pointed out.
“They fined Isiah Pacheco for a routine play?” highlighted the general sentiment across social media.
This is terrible.
NFLPA need to do something about this
— Bull Run (@run_bull_) December 14, 2024
“This is terrible. NFLPA need to do something about this,” commented another fan.