1. Does Marshawn Lynch do it again or not at all?

2014 is the Year of Fine.
Estimated Total Fine: $100,000*
The fact that Marshawn Lynch has a private past is well known. He didn’t spend much time doing interviews or sharing intimate details when he was a player. Lynch concentrated on his responsibilities on the field. Regrettably, NFL teams have very different priorities.

Marshawn Lynch Takes It Double Or Nothing On Twitter @LWinthorpeIII
Marshawn Lynch was fined $50,000 for refusing to talk to reporters during a press conference. Lynch was fined $50,000 a second time later in the season for being a man of few words at yet another press conference, further evidence of his determination to stay away from the spotlight.

2. Dennis Rodman Examines Mormonism

The fine was issued in 1997.
Estimated Total Fine: $50,000*
Nothing can ever diminish the brilliance of Dennis Rodman’s performance on the basketball court, regardless of the friends he chooses or the designer of his 1996 wedding gown. But sometimes, Rodman’s flair for the dramatic would irritate people. similar to his 1997 record-breaking fine.

Dennis Rodman Examines Marxism @people/Pinterest
Although Rodman was known for stepping over boundaries, it was always considered inappropriate to criticize religion, and for a valid reason. The NBA was unwilling to stand by, while Rodman’s inflammatory tirade was directed towards the poor Mormon community. Though it was a record at the time, the $50,000 “The Worm” was fined for his remarks, which was only a small portion of the endorsement contract he had signed with Nike years prior.

3. The NFL Responds to Urlacher’s Hat Selection

Year of Penalty: 2006
Estimated Penalty Total: $100,000*
The fact that former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for donning the incorrect hat is absurd. This is especially true considering that football players typically wear helmets instead of hats. However, that is precisely what transpired when Urlacher wore a snapback hat during a news conference featuring the Vitaminwater Brand, which at the time was not an NFL sponsor.

NFL Responds to Urlacher’s Hat Selection (Graham Bensinger/YouTube)
If he chose to wear a Dick’s jersey on the field rather than the gear provided by the league, that would make sense, but it seems a bit excessive to pay $100,000 to wear a hat of your choice at a news conference.

4. Anderson Silva pays a price to avoid the press.

Year of Fine: 2013
Est. Fine Total: $50,000*
UFC fighters are the closest approximation to contemporary gladiators. They train themselves in some of the most demanding sports. They do all this without considering their own safety so they can beat each other in a cage in front of thousands of fans.

Anderson Silva pays a price to avoid press attention. ©Getty Images/Alexandre Schneider
Despite their outspokenness, professional fighters don’t seem to enjoy the spotlight. Having said that, the legendary fighter Anderson “The Spider” Silva lost $50,000 in 2013 after blowing off a media event.

5. Alastair Lynch Makes a Big Finish

The year 2004 was fine.
Estimated Total Fine: $15,000*
We can look back to a 2004 Brisbane vs. Port Adelaide match as another illustration of the violence in Australian football and the lack of sanctions in place to discourage it. Darryl Wakelin of Adelaide and forward Alastair Lynch of Brisbane got into what can only be called a schoolboy brawl.

Alastair Lynch makes a big finish ©Wikimedia Commons/Flickerd
The two men exchanged punches throughout the entire match. Lynch was hit harder, made more punches land, and received a heavier fine and punishment. Even so, the penalty for a brawl during a game was only $15,000, along with a 10-game suspension.

6. The Raiders of Las Vegas cannot follow the procedure.

Year of Fine: 2021
Est. Fine Total: $800,000*
Their inaugural season in Las Vegas was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Regretfully, the NFL’s regulations and capacity restrictions, implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19, forced the Raiders’ historic homecoming to be rescheduled by a year. That season, a few Raiders coaches and players willfully violated league rules, earning a fine from the league.

The Raiders in Las Vegas are unable to follow protocol. ©Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Athletes and coaches are obligated to set an example for the public, regardless of their personal opinions on the rules. This time, the Raiders’ conduct led the league by example. The league imposed a $800,000 fine on the new Las Vegas squad for violating public health regulations.

7. Jim Irsay’s DUI arrest

2014 is the Year of Fine.
The estimated total fine is $500,000.
Recently, team owners have been in the news more frequently, but not for favorable reasons. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, was the center of attention—or maybe more accurately, the headlights—in 2014. After being detected driving while intoxicated, Irsay entered a plea of guilty without raising any objections.

The DUI of Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay/TTwitter
Because of their positions within the leagues, team owners are typically regarded with greater respect. As a result, they are subject to higher fines than those in lower positions within the hierarchy. Due to his DUI, the Colts’ owner received a six-game suspension and a half-million-dollar fine. He could have purchased a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with that money.

8. The New Orleans Saints place bets on their rivals’ heads.

Year of Fine: 2012
Est. Fine Total: $500,000*
There have only been a few instances in professional sports history that have led to hearings and litigation in federal courts. For the courts to become involved, there must be a major infraction, and “Bountygate” in 2009 was about as serious as it gets.

Bounties on the heads of opponents: New Orleans Saints @john_siglerr/Twitter
The head coach of the New Orleans Saints received a one-year punishment, while the team’s defensive coordinator received an indeterminate suspension for their role in setting up a pay-to-injure program for the players. In terms of organization, the Saints lost their second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 and were fined $500,000.

9. FIFA Has Issues With Nicklas Bendtner’s Drawers

Year of Fine: 2012
Est. Fine Total: $126,000*
Athletes are required to follow established dress regulations when competing in sporting tournaments like Wimbledon. Most people are unaware that professional sports leagues also have clothing regulations. These guidelines subtly encourage league players to wear only league-endorsed apparel.

FIFA is experiencing issues with Nicklas Bendtner’s drawings. © Paul Gilham via Getty Images
As Nicklas Bendtner discovered during Euro 2012, underwear is also subject to league approval. Because the Danish soccer player was wearing the wrong brand of underpants, he was fined $126,000. Maybe FIFA would have levied a lower fine if Nicklas had been wearing Calvin Kleins or Ralph Laurens?

10. Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis don’t seem to match.

The year 2004 was fine.
Estimated Total Fine: $10,000 per unit*
Although it doesn’t happen often, college teammates occasionally have the chance to play together in the pros. Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor, two former Miami Hurricanes, were teammates on the Washington Redskins in 2004. The University of Miami alumni felt that donning red socks during a game would be a fun throwback.

Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis don’t seem to be able to match @BrianJutras on Twitter.
The league held a different opinion. All players on a squad are required by league rules to wear the same color uniform, including socks. Due to this theft, the previous ‘Canes lost $5,000 for every red sock worn. If they had acquired the team’s matching novelty socks from Etsy, they could have avoided paying the penalty and saved money.