Kirk Herbstreit Echoes JJ Watt, Blasts NFL For Fining Player Simply Blocking A Defender

Kirk Herbstreit, like many around the football world, is growing frustrated with the NFL fines being issued to players. A number of these financial punishments seem to involve plays that are relatively common throughout the sport.

Retired defender JJ Watt has been vocal about these fines, blasting the league on social media over the last few days. One instance, in particular, has attracted boatloads of negative attention.

Ravens fullback Pat Ricard was issued a $21K fine for what appeared to be a fairly routine block.

As his team drove towards the goal line during a game against the Cardinals, Ricard was seen as the lead blocker. Opening a lane for his running back, he connected with a defender head-on, pushing an Arizona player out of his rusher’s path to clear the way for a touchdown run.

While Ricard’s helmet might’ve made contact with the defender’s, nothing about the play looked vicious or unnecessary. Ther was no launch and no defenseless player being hit.

Herbstreit took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent.

“How is this even a possibility?” Herbstreit asked while reposting the play that resulted in the fine. Most others agreed with his line of thinking.

“Are these fines some kind of money laundering operation? Make it make sense.”

“National Fine League.”

“The NFL can say they’re trying to ‘protect’ the players.”

“The NFL is becoming much harder to watch.”

JJ Watt has been adamant about these NFL fines of late, noting not only this block by Ricard, but also a hit from Steelers running back Jaylen Warren that cost him nearly his entire game check.

“Don’t tell me it’s about ‘player safety,'” Watt said. “Cut blocks are legal. You can LITERALLY target a players’ knee with your helmet intentionally. So don’t act like we’re on some high and mighty crusade.”

Watt says the NFL is “stealing money” from these players. Kirk Herbstreit agrees.

Something needs to change.