With thee teams being fined $20,000 each in recent weeks for failing to disclose injuries in compliance with league rules, the penalty for the first offense isn’t much more than, given the value of NFL franchises, a parking ticket.
If teams become repeat offenders, however, the price will go up.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells PFT that, if the Bills (as to defensive end Mario Williams), Redskins (as to quarterback Robert Griffin III), or Ravens (as to safety Ed Reed) commit further violations, the fines will increase. Aiello also didn’t rule out the possibility of draft picks being stripped.
Aiello called it “unlikely,” but “multiple offenses of a very serious nature” could result in a team losing draft picks.
In the end, only the threat of lost draft picks will prompt teams to completely comply with the rules. Fines will be viewed simply as a cost of doing business the way the teams want to do business — especially when the January 2012 comments from former Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams make clear the fact that teams will target injured players for further injury.