The NFL has handed down its punishment to the Baltimore Ravens for violating the league's injury report policy, and it barely qualifies as a slap on the wrist.
Videos by FanBuzz
Photo credit: Getty Images
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk relays, the Ravens were fined $100,000 after incorrectly listing Lamar Jackson as a full participant in last Friday's practice ahead of their game against the Chicago Bears. Jackson didn't take any first-team reps, meaning he should have been listed as limited.
At first glance, a six-figure fine might sound serious, Florio opines. But compared to past penalties, it's light. In 2023, the Falcons were fined $75,000, and head coach Arthur Smith another $25,000, for failing to disclose Bijan Robinson's game-day illness. No individuals from Baltimore were fined this time.
A source told PFT the league determined the Ravens' violation was negligent, not deliberate — meaning the team didn't intend to gain a competitive advantage. The NFL also said the Ravens cooperated fully with the investigation.
Still, as Florio notes, the error did give Baltimore a strategic edge. The Bears spent the week preparing for Jackson, not Tyler Huntley. And with the ongoing spotlight on gambling and integrity issues in sports, the timing couldn't have been worse for the league's image.
Instead of cracking down, the NFL essentially treated it like a clerical mistake. Florio points out that last year, the 49ers lost a fifth-round pick over a salary-cap paperwork error that had no competitive impact. The Ravens, meanwhile, walk away with a small fine and a warning.
"The Ravens got lucky on this one," Florio wrote. "And maybe the NFL did too — by choosing not to make this look like the bigger problem it might actually be."
