The NFL recently made an unusual decision regarding a potential fine for Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau, who committed a facemask penalty on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during their Monday night game. Despite the severity of the foul, no fine was issued to Liufau or any other Cowboys player involved in the incident. The facemask violation occurred in the fourth quarter of the game but was not flagged by the officials at the time.
Tom Pelissero from NFL Network reported that no fines were handed out to the Cowboys for the missed facemask penalty. This decision stands in contrast to the league’s usual practice of fining players for such violations, even when they are missed during the game. Interestingly, the NFL did issue a fine to safety Donovan Wilson, also from the Cowboys, for a hip-drop tackle that was not flagged during the same game.
In another case from the same week, Lions defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith was fined for hitting Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s facemask. Like the Burrow incident, this foul was not flagged during the game, yet the league chose to fine Smith. This inconsistency between different incidents raises questions about the NFL’s decision-making process when it comes to imposing fines for missed penalties.
Facemask penalties are common in the NFL, and fines are often imposed for such actions, even if they are not called during the game. The Burrow facemask, given its clear nature, would typically warrant a fine, especially considering the league’s usual stance on missed penalties. However, in this case, the NFL did not take action, leaving the decision quite puzzling to many.
The lack of a fine for Liufau’s facemask violation against Burrow stands out in light of the league’s recent actions regarding similar situations. The NFL frequently addresses missed calls by issuing fines after the fact, as seen in the case of Donovan Wilson’s tackle and Za’Darius Smith’s facemask. Given this precedent, it seems odd that the league would not apply the same standard to the Burrow facemask.
There has been some discussion within the NFL about the possibility of reviewing non-calls during games to address these kinds of issues in real-time. However, the Burrow facemask incident does not seem to align with the idea of greater consistency in officiating or discipline. The lack of penalty and fine for such an obvious infraction raises questions about the league’s approach to enforcing rules and ensuring fair play.
Ultimately, the NFL’s decision not to fine Liufau for the facemask on Burrow leaves many wondering why the league chose not to take action. With missed calls and non-penalized infractions often leading to fines, the absence of discipline for such a blatant foul is certainly unusual and adds to the ongoing debate about the consistency of NFL officiating and disciplinary practices.
