The NFL is warning teams of significant potential punishments in an attempt to crack down on players fighting on the field before games.
According to ESPN, a memo was sent out on Wednesday to top executives and all 32 head coaches, stating that fighting “is irreconcilable” with the league’s values and “is never acceptable.”
The memo also reminded all teams of the league’s warmup rules and set a list of potential punishments if fighting should ensue.
Any player or club personnel involved in a fight before or during a game are subject to ejection, suspension, and/or a “significant fine.”
Any team of a player or personnel involved in a fight could also result in a forfeited draft pick and/or face a fine.
Additionally, any member of a team that joins an existing fight could be “subject to more significant accountability measures.”
“Fighting is never acceptable, as it risks unnecessary injury to players, coaches, officials, and other game day personnel,” the memo states. “These actions send an inappropriate and unacceptable message to players, coaches, and fans at all other levels of the game.”
The NFL also plans to have its football operations staff monitor opposing teams before and during warmups when teams are required to stay within their respective zones inside their own 45-yard lines.
During Week 6 of the NFL season, two games saw significant pregame fights.
At the 49ers-Browns game in Cleveland, the teams got into a big fight that involved several key players on both teams, including Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Juan Thornhill, Trent Williams and Elijah Moore, among others.
A skirmish also took place on Monday night’s Cowboys-Chargers game when Cowboys players ran through a drill being conducted by Chargers defensive backs.
None of the players were disciplined as a result of either fight, according to the NFL, but they emphasized that the league intends to “strongly enforce” its policies going forward.
Meanwhile, fans have followed suit with fights breaking out in the stands and concourses at several NFL games throughout the season.
“There are rules,” Goodell said at the owners’ meeting Wednesday after receiving a contract extension. “If people aren’t going to behave in our stadiums, they aren’t going to be in our stadiums. We’ll take those steps and measures to protect our fans.”
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