More fallout is expected from Thursday night’s brawl between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league wanted to discipline the main people involved in the altercation first and is expected to dish out fines to at least 10 other players. One such player expected to be fined is Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.
Steelers’ QB Mason Rudolph, who was not suspended for his role in the fight, is expected to be fined for his role in Thursday night’s melee. The fine schedule calls for a player to be fined $35,096 for a first-time fighting offense.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2019
Rudolph arguably started what became a chain of events that led to him getting clubbed in the head with his own helmet by Myles Garrett, who was suspended indefinitely. After he was brought down by Garrett, Rudolph could be seen trying to take Garrett’s helmet off while still on the ground. The Browns defensive end responded by taking Rudolph’s helmet off, during which Rudolph kicked Garrett in the groin. He then charged at the third-year defensive star, which prompted him to swing and strike Rudolph with his helmet.
The standard fine for a first-time fighting offense is $35,096.
In addition to Rudolph, the NFL is expected to fine other players for leaving the bench and running onto the field. Schefter reported while the exact number of players to be fined is unknown, it is expected to at least “reach into double digits.”
According to Schefter, the NFL’s fine schedule for 2019 states that players who unnecessarily enter a fight area with no active involvement are to be fined $3,507 on their first offense, and $10,527 on their second offense.
Players who unnecessarily enter the fight area with active involvement are to be fined $7,017 for a first offense and $14,037 for a second offense, per Schefter.
