NFL slaps Marcus Peters with big fine for tackle on Packers WR Christian Watson

The NFL slapped Raiders cornerback Marcus Peters with a large fine this week for a controversial play against Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson. The former Ravens star pulled Watson down by the back of the collar on a breakaway catch as his last-ditch effort to save a touchdown play.

For the horse-collar tackle, the NFL sent Peters a fine of $13,378 for unnecessary roughness. The Raiders ended up winning the game 17-13. Watson finished the game with three catches on seven targets for 91 yards. The second-year star has just five catches for 116 yards and one touchdown.

Marcus Peters got called for a horse-collar penalty after this HUGE play from Christian Watson 😳#GBvsLV pic.twitter.com/pSLSrzMDaI

— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2023

Although the corner committed a clear, blatant penalty, according to head coach Josh McDaniels, it was worth it.

“I talked to Marcus [Peters]. It’s the right penalty,” McDaniels said after the game. “That’s a really smart play in a critical time in the game. If it’s the first quarter in the middle of the field, you don’t want to horse collar. But if you’re saving a touchdown on a long play like that, you at least give yourself a chance to play a few more downs, which he did. 

“And then the defense really rose up and played well. I thought they played well for the most part.”

Tyreek Hill fined for peace sign celebration

Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is trying to avoid NFL fines but the hits just keep on coming. After the league fined him $7,000 for not wearing socks after Week 4, Hill received another fine, this time for his signature touchdown celebration.

Playing against the Giants last week, Hill hit New York with the peace sign on his way into the end zone on a 69-yard scamper. For that act of celebration, the league gave him a fine of $10,927 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Despite receiving a fine, Hill still came out on top on Sunday as the Dolphins took down the Giants 31-16. The wideout had eight receptions, 181 yards and a touchdown on nine targets.

Hill estimates that the NFL has levied about $100,000 worth of fines against him. In past games, any time Hill didn’t wear socks with his cleats, the NFL considered it a violation of the uniform code.

Hill tired of NFL fines

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that Hill’s fines didn’t total $100,000, but is still a “significant amount.”

“I don’t want to further talk on it,” Hill told reporters. “I feel like my job as an employee of the NFL is to comply, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to comply, I’m going to give in. Usually, I bite the bullet and try to fight back, but once they start digging in your pocket a little bit, there’s really not much you can do.

“Plus in some kind of way, it gives me an advantage,” Hill said. “That’s what they said with me not having on socks, they said it gives me an advantage. I was like, ‘So y’all are going to drug test me for not wearing socks?’ At this point, I’m not going to say nothing, I’m just going to comply.”

Tyreek Hill is the highest-paid receiver in the NFL and makes roughly $30 million a year, so he can absorb a fine of $7,000 every few games. Even so, he doesn’t like throwing money away.

“The NFL has certain rules that have been here way before I’ve been playing this game, and they are going to be here well after, so it’s my job to comply… I don’t know, they’ve got their whole philosophy behind it,” Hill said. “I’m just going to do what I can to keep my hard-earned money in my pocket.”