In a Week One showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, tensions ran high on the sideline between linebacker Roquan Smith and tight end Peyton Hendershot. Smith was not pleased when Hendershot, who was inactive for the game, decided to give him a shove after a play. This altercation caught the attention of the NFL, which took action against Hendershot for his actions.
According to reports, Hendershot has been fined $5,472 for his unsportsmanlike conduct. Not only that, but the Chiefs organization has also been slapped with a hefty $100,000 fine for violating a league rule that prohibits non-participant players from engaging in unnecessary physical contact or taunting opponents. It seems like the league is not taking this situation lightly.
Despite the fines handed out, Hendershot is not backing down. Reports suggest that he plans to appeal the penalty. It appears that he was upset with Smith for what he perceived as late contact with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, Smith himself was not penalized for the incident, although he did receive a fine of $16,883 for a horse-collar tackle earlier in the game.
The drama didn’t end there. The NFL also announced fines for other players involved in altercations during the game. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was hit with a $5,582 fine for unnecessary roughness, while Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh was fined $20,050 for the same offense. Pacheco’s infraction came when he used his head to initiate contact on a run, while Oweh’s hit on Pacheco in the fourth quarter led to his punishment.
It’s clear that the intensity of the game spilled over off the field, resulting in fines and disciplinary actions for multiple players. The rivalry between the Ravens and the Chiefs only seems to be heating up, and it will be interesting to see how these fines impact the teams moving forward.
