Former Packer Za’Darius Smith was fined for hit on Jordan Love

On December 16, 2024By Littum

Former Green Bay Packers pass rusher Za’Darius Smith left Detroit Lions win last week with a little less money in his pocket than he expected. The NFL announced Sunday that Smith was fined nearly $7,000 for a hit to the head of Packers quarterback Jordan Love, a play that was flagged by the crew working the play.

I’m sure Smith would be the first to tell you he’d trade $7,000 for an uncalled 15-yard automatic first down any day of the week. The piece is linked below:

Lions guard Christian Mahogany was fined $4,609 for a face mask in the same game. He was the right guard on the play where he pulled on Packers linebacker Quay Walker’s face mask.

#Lions OL Christian Mahogany (#73) was fined $4,609 for catching Packers linebacker Quay Walker’s facemask while blocking. It was the third offensive snap of Mahogany’s career. pic.twitter.com/rlwLzkitsp

— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) 14 December 2024

Personally, I hate that the NFL goes after the players’ pockets instead of calling plays right the first time. The fact that Smith was fined does nothing for the Packers today and only punishes individuals — rather than teams.

Before 2023, the record for most league-wide fines in a single season was 238 in 2016. Since 2023, however, fine numbers have exploded. From week 11 is The NFL has already recorded 283 fines for the 2024 season alone – with six weeks left in the regular season.

The subjective nature of these fines is also a hot-button issue. Last month, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $14,069 for a “violent gesture” that ended up just being him pointing in a way the league interpreted as a finger weapon. That’s more than double the penalty Smith received for an uncalled personal foul.

Those on-field fines go to the Professional Athletes Foundation, which is a roundabout way for the league to find funding for youth football programs. The vast majority of fines come on the defensive side of the ball, meaning these players pay most of the bill.