Whether you want to call it the "No Fun League" or the "National Flag Football League," the NFL is receiving some bad publicity after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander was fined $43,709 for a hit that, to the naked eye, seemed to be a routine tackle.
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The NFL fined #Steelers LB Kwon Alexander $43,709 for unnecessary roughness in last week’s preseason game against Tampa Bay.
These types of hits with the head lowered are a point of emphasis this season. Alexander was fined for the same offense in 2022.pic.twitter.com/hY9en1qB4R
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 19, 2023
As you can see in the clip above, Alexander — an NFL veteran who has spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and now the Steelers — appears to make a routine tackle on Buccaneers running back Chase Edmonds.
Even the broadcasters in the clip refer to it as "beautifully done" by Alexander.
At the end of the clip, you can hear the broadcasters mention that a flag was thrown.
According to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, Alexander was fined for the same offense last year. "These types of hits with the head lowered are a point of emphasis this season," he said.
No, we're not the competition committee or health and safety police, but we're also not sure what else Alexander could have done there.
There are still-photo frames circulating where you can see he may have lowered his helmet a bit; but with such a bang-bang play, it's hard to tell.
It’s weird that you posted a pic of after the hit. I mean. Agree or disagree, show the impact point. pic.twitter.com/J6A3StH4fm
— [email protected] (@ny_raiders) August 19, 2023
From the shot above, you can see Alexander's helmet meet Edmonds' shoulder pads, although he's also hunched down a bit.
Either way, this fine will draw the ire of fans who criticize the direction the NFL is going in with the number of flags being thrown.
Last year, 3,726 flags were thrown across 284 games, which isn't much more than the 3,699 thrown in 2009, when each team played 16 regular season games instead of the current 17. Of course, these stats aren't just for controversial hits.
Nfl turning into flag football
— Purge_Faith (@PURGE_FAITH) August 20, 2023
Still, plays like this circulating on social media will never win fans over, just like flags thrown in big games that could cost a team a win.
