Steelers running back Jaylen Warren racks up two of the biggest NFL fines this season totalling $48,000 plus change per fine but insists he will not change the way he plays.
“I mean, it sucks because that’s so much money,” Warren said, via ESPN. “But I don’t let it alter my play. If . . . I don’t know if I should say this, but if I was in the same situation, I’m still doing what I’m going to do. It’s what got me on the team.”
Both plays were not flagged and were retrospectively given.
This comes off the back of two fines last season, and he is treading a fine line, both in deed and in word.
“I got two fines last year, and I’m still doing it this year,” Warren said. “OK. And I mean, it’s kind of hard. I don’t know how I’m supposed to hit dudes that’s like 350 pounds and 2 feet taller than me. I can’t stand my ground and kind of punch ‘em. They’re going to run me over. So I try to enforce the hitting, again to the point where it’s costing me.”
Warren is also questioning the size of the fines and says it does not correlate with his salary. He signed as an undrafted rookie last season and does not feel it is fair, he gets higher fines than someone like BJ Watt, who earns $112 million over four years.
He was fined for a hit on pass rusher Michael Hoecht of the Rams.
The amounts seem arbitrary, especially considering they were not even deemed foul enough to be flagged. But head protection is a costly business, just ask the NFL.
