NFL Announces Punishment for Bills Player Who Hit Baker M...

By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

NFL games are packed with passion and fury, and sometimes, that can translate into players going too far on the field.

That's exactly what happened in a Week 11 matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL has announced its punishment decision for Bills defensive end Joey Bosa for his actions against Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during last Sunday's 44-32 win.

Every Saturday during the season, the NFL hands down punishments to players who broke the rules in a big way the week prior. The NFL notes on their website that these actions are "to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity" and that the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.

On Saturday, the NFL announced a $17,389 fine for Bosa for his hit on Mayfield, which the league deemed dangerous due to the "contact to the knee area or below of a passer."

Read more: Bills’ Josh Allen Earns Notable NFL Honor After Outplaying Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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The incident took place during the fourth quarter.

Mayfield tossed an incomplete pass to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and Bosa jumped toward Mayfield as the quarterback released the ball. The defensive end made contact with Mayfield’s knee, and the refs called a roughing the passer foul on Bosa.

That move resulted in a 15-yard penalty in favor of Tampa Bay, but the NFL deemed the action even more punishable, and slapped Bosa with the fine.

Read more: Bucs’ Baker Mayfield Comments on Matthew Stafford Draws Huge Reactions

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According to the NFL, the funds raised from those fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to "support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game."

This isn't Bosa's first NFL fine. The last time he was fined for roughing the passer was in 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Chargers and was fined $16,391 for unnecessary roughness against the New York Jets, according to Spotrac.

Bosa also got a fine earlier this season for $12,172 earlier this season for fighting with the Carolina Panthers. According to NFL research, up until now, his total fines for actions in the NFL totaled $174,332.

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