{"id":2394417,"date":"2025-01-23T15:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T20:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pathetic-nfl-fines-player-for-something-he-didnt-say-then-doubles-down-on-it\/"},"modified":"2025-01-23T15:52:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T20:52:20","slug":"pathetic-nfl-fines-player-for-something-he-didnt-say-then-doubles-down-on-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pathetic-nfl-fines-player-for-something-he-didnt-say-then-doubles-down-on-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Pathetic: NFL Fines Player for Something He Didn&#8217;t Say, Then Doubles Down On It"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpathetic-nfl-fines-player-for-something-he-didnt-say-then-doubles-down-on-it%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2394417&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses recent controversies surrounding the NFL, particularly focusing on the fine imposed on houston\u2063 Texans running back Joe Mixon. Initially, the NFL fined Mixon \u2063$25,000 for comments he allegedly made regarding biased officiating during a playoff game against the \u200bKansas City Chiefs. However, \u200bthese comments were actually made \u200cby former Bengals player T.J. Houshmandzadeh, leading to criticism of\u200d the NFL&#8217;s officiating practices. <\/p>\n<p>despite realizing the mistake, the\u200c league \u200dmaintained\u2062 the fine based on comments made by Mixon, where he\u200c acknowledged the\u2064 officiating but also suggested that\u2064 his team should have played better. the situation was\u200d exacerbated by questionable officiating calls in the \u2062game,leading to\u200c public\u2063 outcry and skepticism about the integrity of NFL officiating,especially concerning favoritism towards the chiefs.<\/p>\n<p>The article\u2063 argues that the NFL often prioritizes\u200b financial interests over integrity,highlighting\u2063 its \u200cpartnerships with gambling companies and media rights deals. It concludes that \u200cthe league&#8217;s handling of this situation and its inability to address public perceptions of biased officiating reflect a broader issue within the\u200d association,where the focus remains on profit rather than on \u2062rectifying the\u200b credibility of its\u2062 officiating.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Taking money from people&rsquo;s pockets on false pretense fits the legal definition of fraud. Doing so in order to conceal one&rsquo;s own failures probably constitutes a kind of informal conspiracy.<\/p>\n<p>Why NFL players sign collective bargaining agreements that force them to put up with it is beyond me.<\/p>\n<p>According to NBC Sports&rsquo; &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nfl\/profootballtalk\/rumor-mill\/news\/nfl-revises-joe-mixon-fine-from-what-he-didnt-say-to-what-he-did-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pro Football Talk<\/a>,&rdquo; the NFL compounded its already egregious officiating crisis &mdash; showcased at its worst during the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs&rsquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/nfl\/gametracker\/boxscore\/NFL_20250118_HOU@KC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">23-14 playoff victory<\/a> over the Houston Texans on Saturday &mdash; first by fining Texans&rsquo; running back Joe Mixon $25,000 for comments he did not make, and then later by doubling down on the fine and citing comments he did make.<\/p>\n<p>The league originally fined Mixon for the following statement: &ldquo;Why play the game if every 50\/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are trash and bias.&rdquo; Those words, however, came not from Mixon but from former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.<\/p>\n<p>Undeterred in its mission to silence criticism, and insusceptible to shame, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-nfl-star-raises-eyebrows-caught-reading-sidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> maintained the fine, citing Mixon&rsquo;s actual words.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everybody know how it is playing up here,&rdquo; Mixon said on Saturday, referring to Kansas City. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t &mdash; you can never leave &mdash; you can never leave it into the refs&rsquo; hands. But, I mean the whole world see, man, like, what it is, bro. But it is what it is. Like I said, when it come down to it you can never leave it into the refs&rsquo; hands, man, and things like that, but it&rsquo;s all good, though.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Readers may view Mixon&rsquo;s comments in the clip below, posted to the social media platform X. Note that he mentioned the officiating, but he also suggested that Houston should have played better and not left it to the refs to decide the game&rsquo;s outcome.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The NFL fined Texans running back Joe Mixon for saying this after the Kansas City win: &ldquo;Why play the game if every 50\/50 call goes with Chiefs. These officials are trash and bias.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Here is the problem &mdash; Joe did not say that.<\/p>\n<p>Below are his comments when asked about the&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fyL3LfgkVB\">https:\/\/t.co\/fyL3LfgkVB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WillKunkelFOX\/status\/1882143003751411914?\">January 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Mixon&rsquo;s comments stemmed from a pair of extremely controversial penalties against the Texans. Both penalties involved alleged fouls on Kansas City quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/patrick-mahomes-fire-fans-point-interaction-nfl-ref-controversial-missed-calls-continue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Patrick Mahomes<\/a> that few independent observers regarded as justified.<\/p>\n<p>Late in the third quarter of a 13-12 game, for instance, an &ldquo;unnecessary roughness&rdquo; penalty against Houston defenders who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-lebron-james-appears-to-fake-getting-hit-on-head-to-draw-shooting-penalty-from-refs\/\" title=\"WATCH: LeBron James Appears To Fake Getting Hit On Head To Draw Shooting Penalty From Refs\">barely made contact<\/a> with Mahomes prompted an audible expression of disgust from ESPN broadcaster <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/A\/AikmTr00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Troy Aikman<\/a>, a Hall-of-Fame quarterback who spent his illustrious career with the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Oh, come on,&rdquo; Aikman said in a clip of the play posted to X.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I mean, he&rsquo;s a runner,&rdquo; Aikman added, referring to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-fires-back-taylor-swifts-kamala-endorsement-actually-like-mrs-mahomes-much-better\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mahomes<\/a>, &ldquo;and I could not disagree with that one more, and he barely gets hit.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The same clip showed an equally abominable penalty call on a hit against Mahomes in the game&rsquo;s first quarter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&ldquo;Oh, come on! I mean, he&rsquo;s a runner. I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit.&rdquo; &ndash; Troy Aikman<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The two Houston players hit each other. That should not have been a foul.&rdquo; &ndash; Russell Yurk<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ve gotta address it in the offseason&hellip;&rdquo; &ndash; Aikman &#127944;&#127897;&#65039;&#129427; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NFL<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vXj2v7VTKg\">https:\/\/t.co\/vXj2v7VTKg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QioQ5IQwhg\">pic.twitter.com\/QioQ5IQwhg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/awfulannouncing\/status\/1880762104728445017?\">January 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The final statistics only further highlighted the serious officiating problem. Houston, for instance, outgained Kansas City in total yardage, 336-212, converted ten of 17 third downs compared to only four of 11 for the Chiefs, held the ball for nearly seven more minutes, did not commit a turnover, and yet lost the game thanks largely to eight penalties for 82 yards compared to Kansas City&rsquo;s four penalties for 29 yards.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/four-illegal-immigrants-charged-targeting-nfl-superstar-gang-operation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NFL<\/a> owners and executives might or might not care about the league&rsquo;s officiating problem. But their concern, if it exists, has less to do with integrity and more to do with perception.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, for instance, the NFL <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfl.com\/news\/nfl-announces-tri-exclusive-sports-betting-partners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> a formal partnership with several online betting platforms. Millions of gamblers, including financially desperate ones, have since lost money.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the NFL has always relied heavily on gambling to drive viewership. Anyone who has followed the sport closely for years knows this. It explains, for instance, why the league publishes a weekly injury report: to stave off accusations that insiders might benefit from knowledge of key players&rsquo; injury statuses and then use that information to make money in the betting markets.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americangaming.org\/resources\/how-much-does-the-nfl-stand-to-gain-from-legal-sports-betting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Gaming Association<\/a> estimated that the NFL could profit $2.3 billion annually from legalized sports betting.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, the league&rsquo;s gambling partnership had nothing to do with integrity.<\/p>\n<p>The same holds true for player safety. NFL executives make a big show of supporting player-safety initiatives. But they revealed their first priority, again in 2021, when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/amazon-suffers-christmas-blow-10000-workers-walk-off-job-worst-possible-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a> agreed to pay approximately $1 billion annually for exclusive rights to the NFL&rsquo;s Thursday Night Football package, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/03\/18\/nfl-media-rights-deal-2023-2033-amazon-gets-exclusive-thursday-night.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That meant, of course, that players would continue suiting up and crashing into one another at high speeds during games on Thursday nights after receiving, in most cases, only three days&rsquo; rest following games the previous Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>In short, when money and integrity clash, the NFL prioritizes the former and treats the latter as a perception problem.<\/p>\n<p>If the league wants to avoid the perception that its <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">officials give special consideration<\/a> to the Chiefs, for instance, then perhaps it should instruct those officials not to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/f-35-why-pilots-love-this-stealth-fighter-like-no-other\/\" title=\"F-35: Why Pilots Love This Stealth Fighter Like No Other\">make bad calls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, one cannot avoid human error altogether. But people tend to forgive mistakes except when those mistakes form part of a suspicious pattern.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the league would avoid the perception that it favors the Chiefs if its broadcast partners started directing their in-game cameras away from pop music superstar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/viewers-spot-telling-difference-nfl-broadcasters-handle-elon-musk-taylor-swift\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taylor Swift<\/a>, girlfriend of Kansas City tight end <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/travis-kelce-says-secret-service-threatened-tase-white-house-visit-werent-happy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Travis Kelce<\/a>, instead of showing her reactions throughout games and thereby raising the very reasonable suspicion that the NFL hopes to prolong the Chiefs&rsquo; season so as to benefit from Swift-related viewership.<\/p>\n<p>After all, beclowning themselves by fining Mixon on account of words he never said, and then keeping the fine in place afterward so as to remind him not to speak the truth about the league&rsquo;s officiating problem, surely did not aid the NFL in alleviating its perception problem.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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If this is done to hide one&#8217;s own shortcomings, it may also be seen as a form of informal conspiracy. It&#8217;s puzzling why NFL players agree to collective bargaining agreements that require them to endure such practices. As reported by NBC Sports&#8217; &#8220;Pro Football Talk,&#8221; the NFL has exacerbated its already serious officiating issues, highlighted during the Kansas City Chiefs&#8217; playoff win over the Houston Texans, by fining Texans running back Joe Mixon $25,000 for comments he never made and later reinforcing that fine based on comments he did make. Initially, Mixon was fined for saying: &#8220;Why play the game if every 50\/50 call goes with Chiefs? These officials are trash and biased.&#8221; However, those words were actually spoken by former Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The NFL persisted in its efforts to silence criticism and upheld the fine based on Mixon&#8217;s actual remarks.<\/p>\n<p>Mixon commented on playing in Kansas City: \u201cYou can\u2019t leave it in the refs\u2019 hands&#8230; but it is what it is.\u201d While he acknowledged officiating issues, he also implied that Houston should have performed better instead of relying on referees for the game&#8217;s outcome.<\/p>\n<p>The fines stemmed from controversial penalties against Houston involving quarterback Patrick Mahomes that many observers deemed unjustified. For example, an unnecessary roughness penalty late in a close game drew criticism from ESPN&#8217;s Troy Aikman who remarked how minimal contact was made with Mahomes.<\/p>\n<p>Statistics further underscored officiating problems; despite outgaining Kansas City and committing fewer turnovers, Houston lost due largely to more penalties assessed against them compared to their opponents.<\/p>\n<p>NFL executives may or may not care about these officiating issues; however, their concern seems more focused on public perception than integrity\u2014especially since they partnered with online betting platforms which have led many gamblers to financial losses.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, when financial interests conflict with integrity within the NFL&#8217;s operations\u2014such as prioritizing gambling revenue over player safety\u2014the league tends to favor profit while treating integrity as merely a matter of public image management. To improve perceptions regarding favoritism towards teams like the Chiefs or avoid scrutiny related to high-profile figures associated with them (like Taylor Swift), better officiating practices would be essential rather than punitive measures against players speaking out about these concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2394418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mixon.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6733,32311,7215,49095,34619],"class_list":["post-2394417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-controversy","tag-free-speech","tag-nfl","tag-player-fines","tag-sports-news"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mixon.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2394417"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2394421,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394417\/revisions\/2394421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2394418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2394417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2394417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}