Arizona Cardinals safety Joey Blount was fined $16,883 for a facemask penalty in their Week 9 win against the Chicago Bears. Oddly, no flag was thrown on the play, yet Blount still received a substantial fine, as noted by The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain.
According to Cards Wire’s Howard Balze, the incident occurred in the first quarter, with Blount as the gunner on a punt. While being blocked by Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell, Blount’s hand briefly made contact with Blackwell’s facemask but didn’t appear to pull or linger. The fine represents a hefty 30.9% of Blount’s weekly salary, which is $54,722 based on his annual $985,000 salary. Fines are generally adjusted according to a player’s salary and the perceived severity of the infraction.
Blount’s fine was one of several $16,883 or higher that week, with other players fined for hits on defenseless players or high blows to the head/neck. Players can appeal fines, and appeals are reviewed by former NFL players Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae, or Jordy Nelson. All fines are donated to charities like the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation to promote health, safety, and wellness for athletes at various levels.
This is Blount’s second fine of the season for a facemask penalty; he was also fined after a similar incident against the Green Bay Packers. With Jalen Thompson listed as questionable, Blount may play a key role at safety as Arizona takes on the New York Jets.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon previously praised Blount for his impact on the team, noting his positive attitude, strong practice habits, and role as a key player for the Cardinals.
