Carson Wentz dirty hit punishment vs taunting fine shows NFL’s hypocrisy

The NFL inconsistencies continue as the defender who delivered a dirty hit on Colts quarterback Carson Wentz isn’t fined.

While this has been an NFL season filled with plenty of fun upsets, close games and competitive records, it has been plagued by horrible officiating. Not only have referees been inconsistent in their calls, but the new rules that are being emphasized makes the game hard to watch.

The problem isn’t just with the crew of officials we see on game day either, the calls they make that often cause outrage are generally backed up and supported by the league office. From taunting to unnecessary roughness, the NFL has a problem that seems to upset everyone from players to fans. The only people not upset are the small minority creating the rules.

Throughout this season alone, there have been plenty of instances where a referee makes a baffling call, then the league office doubles down on it days later either with a statement or a fine. If the rules weren’t bad enough, the inconsistency in consequences make things even worse.

One of the latest examples of this hypocrisy comes from two instances in Week 12 games. In a game against the Bills, Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Carson Wentz, was hit in the legs extremely late. The defender was penalized on the field with a 15-yard penalty, but the league office decided that his action didn’t merit a fine.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was fined $10,300 for simply pointing at a defender as he ran into the end zone. Edwards-Helaire was also flagged with a 15-yard taunting penalty on the field.

NFL decision on fining players makes no sense

You don’t even have to be a fan of football to understand that this doesn’t add up. In a game that is suppose to be fun, a player isn’t allowed to do harmless celebratory actions without being fined while a player can illegally hit another player late, something that can cause serious harm, and the NFL doesn’t deem it worthy of a fine.

Compare the above video of Wentz knees being targeted and the following video of Edwards-Helaire “taunting” and decide which action should carry stiffer consequences.

The NFL thinks it’s the one of the player pointing, and objectively, that makes no sense, but that’s the way the NFL operates. Although media calls out the inconsistencies and even players express how confusing it is to see these occurrences, the league just doubles down.

Whether it is from pride or the league office not wanting to alter the rules midseason, they have to know they are deciding to go with the side opposite of logic. It’ll be in the best interest of all parties involved if they adjusted the rules to be reasonable and consistent.

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