The NFL fined the Kansas City Chiefs organization $100,000 and tight end Peyton Hendershot $5,472 for a sideline shove that drew the ire of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith in last week’s kickoff game, per sources.
Hendershot, who was acquired via trade with the Dallas Cowboys at last month’s roster-cutdown deadline, was inactive for the game. But he came to Patrick Mahomes‘ defense after Smith appeared to knock down the star quarterback after Mahomes stepped out of bounds following a fourth-quarter run.
No flags were thrown on Hendershot or Smith, who accused Mahomes of flopping to try to draw a penalty. The Chiefs won the season opener, 27-20.
Hendershot plans to appeal his fine, per sources.
“Whoever 88 is, I don’t know who he is, but he better watch himself,” Smith said this week. “He did a little slick push. I’ll see him when I see him.”
The NFL has cracked down in recent years on inactive players and other sideline personnel getting involved in altercations with active players.
The league sent a memo to clubs on Aug. 7 reminding them in part: “The Playing Rules of the National Football League, and the 2024 Policy Manual for Member Clubs — Game Operations prohibits non-player personnel (e.g., coaches, trainers, equipment staff, security personnel) and non-participant players (e.g., inactive players, practice squad players) from making unnecessary physical contact with, or taunting or directing abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures at opponents, Game Officials, or representatives of the League.”
The memo added: “Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players and other club personnel throughout the game day period. NFL Football Operations will enforce these policies and assess accountability measures on both individuals and clubs as appropriate, which may include ejection, fines and/or suspensions without pay.”
Kansas City (1-0) hosts the Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
DJ Bien-Aime, ESPNSep 18, 2024, 07:48 PM ETCloseDJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets
Another week in the NFL season is behind us, and a whole lot more learned. Are the Saints actually good? Are the Rams not? What in the hell are the Dallas Cowb
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales stated the team has no intentions of trading Bryce Young following his benching. This has not stopped a few people fr
The Dallas Cowboys got some good news on Wednesday evening about their star wideout, CeeDee Lamb. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, it sounds like his