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Lonestar
10-10-2009, 12:53 PM
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post

Posted: 10/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT


Welcome back and keep the queries coming

Today's comes from Lance Hawvermale in Tulsa, Okla.:

Q: I just read that Anthony Spencer of the Cowboys was hit with a fine of $5,000 for a face-mask penalty against Kyle Orton. When players and coaches are fined for various reasons — illegal blocks, speaking out against the officials, or wearing the wrong color of socks — where does that money go?

A: Lance, disciplinary fines from game action are contributed to the league's charitable arms, going to a variety of causes that include the NFLPA's Player Assistance Trust Fund — to help retired players — as well as charitable initiatives supporting youth, education and sports-related medical research.

Sometimes, however, more fines are levied than are actually paid. Players appeal the fine — almost universally — so there is a delay before any decision is made on the final amount.

Since plays are reviewed by the league's officiating department before fines are levied, it's usually pretty clear what happened, because it's been reviewed multiple times on video. Sometimes a guy won't have to pay until the end of the season; sometimes he wins the appeal and that's that.

Teams occasionally take the same direction with in-house fines. When I covered the Titans, coach Jeff Fisher would donate internal fines — for being late, losing a playbook, missing a workout — to an organization that works with terminally ill children.


Jeff Legwold: