NFL warns teams – ‘Significant’ discipline for fighting

The NFL has threatened to impose significant sanctions on any player or team involved in fights before or during games.

In a memo obtained by ESPN on Sunday, the NFL told teams that fighting “is irreconcilable” with the league’s values ​​and “is never acceptable.” The memo, sent Wednesday to senior management and head coaches of all 32 teams, also reiterated the league’s warm-up rules and outlined potential discipline.

Any player or club staff member who fights before or during a match is subject to expulsion, suspension and/or a “significant fine,” according to the memo.

Any team whose players or staff are involved in a fight could potentially lose a draft pick and/or face a fine. The NFL also said teams whose players or staff join an existing fight could potentially be “subject to greater accountability measures.”

“Fighting is never acceptable because it risks unnecessary injury to players, coaches, officials and other game day personnel,” the league memo states. “These actions send an inappropriate and unacceptable message to players, coaches and fans at every other level of the game.”

Two games last weekend – the 49ers’ game against the Browns in Cleveland and the Cowboys’ game against the Chargers on Monday night in Los Angeles – were marred by pregame fights.

The NFL said no players were disciplined as a result of either fight, but stressed that it intends to “strongly enforce” its policies going forward. The league also said its football operations staff would monitor team activities before and during the warm-up period, when teams must remain in their designated areas inside their own 45-yard lines.

“Game Day policies are clear on this point,” the memo said. “They were reviewed by members at the fall meeting and there should be no ambiguity or misunderstanding.”