Fine and Suspension Blotter Preseason Week 2: Couple of Big Names to Start

And these fines DO count against team numbers, regardless of whether these players make the team.


These first two should not matter in that regard, though:

• New Orleans Saints:  Jimmy Graham basically becomes the first TWO-TIME LOSER of the season.  He was fined $30,000 for dunking over the goal post TWICE in the preseason game with Tennessee.

I get the idea of it -- it was basically stated as a Point of Emphasis this year for damage to the equipment.


That said, what I do not and will not get is why the touchdown does not come off the board.


Apparently, according to the play-by-play of the game, the rules were, in fact, NOT enforced, as Graham should've been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on both plays (and not sure that the second one was not an ejectable offense).


But the game was a mess:  THIRTY-TWO penalties were accepted for nearly 300 yards, 22 on the Saints.  Six further Saints penalties in the contest were declined!


The 22 penalties, had they taken place in a regular-season contest, would've tied the NFL record for most penalties in an NFL game by a team.


And, in no surprise:

• Cleveland Browns:  Johnny Manziel:  $12,000 for flipping off the Washington bench.

And YET ANOTHER drug suspension:

• Kansas City Chiefs:  Donald Stephenson, four games, PEDs.
• And that will cost Kansas City.  His base salary was $570,000, so the league will get $35,000 or so.   (25% of lost salary for second suspension, up to $200K.)