Cam Newton came out and said he "does not even feel safe" playing the game of football. Is the NFL concerned enough about player safety or more concerned about the money?

1. NFL Fines
Concern over Player Safety

2. Overview
• Sunday Night Football,Thursday Night Football & Monday Night football charge
the highest price per 30 seconds of ad time
• NFL ratings have been down this year
• Cam Newton’s comments, phone call with the commissioner
• Fines for celebrations are often more than or equal to fines for dangerous plays
• Overall issues with player safety in the NFL, concussions and CTE

3. Cam Newton
• Victim of helmet-to-helmet hits in the opening game in the NFL season
• Reigning most valuable player means he’s a big voice on the issue
• No in-game penalties for the Broncos players who hit him in the helmet, fines were
administered after
• Issues re-surfaced last weekend when Newton said “I don’t feel safe.”
• NFL officials missed a dangerous play call in the game last weekend against Newton
• Newton entered the concussion protocol after week 4

4. Dangerous Play Fines
• Brandon Marshall (Broncos) fined $24,000 for a helmet to helmet hit, not penalized
in game
• Darian Stewart fined $18,000 for helmet to helmet hit
• Jarvis Landry fined $24,000 for blindside block (dangerous block), he was also
penalized but not ejected
• Calias Campbell fined $18,000 for low hit on Newton, no penalty in game

5. Antonio Brown & Odell Beckham Jr.
Brown:
• Twerked in the endzone and did the “pump” following aTD
• 15 yard penalty, $6,000 for twerk, $24,000 for pump
• Totaled $46,000 for dances and cleats
Beckham Jr.:
• 70 yardTD late in the game, removed his helmet after running through the
endzone
• 15 yard penalty, about a $24,000 fine

6. Ethical Issues
• Is the NFL doing enough to ensure player safety on the field?
• Would the NFL benefit from a “safer” league?
• Are the NFL’s priorities in the wrong place when it comes to fining players the same
or more over celebrations?
• Are fines an effective way to enforce the rules in any company?
• Are the owners concerned enough about player (employee) safety?

7. Sources
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/10/06/antonio-browns-
twerk-celebration-draws-24000-fine/
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17794545/pittsburgh-steelers-wr-antonio-brown-
honors-jose-fernandez-kimbo-slice-cleats
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/10/21/odell-beckham-jr-fined/92526392/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/11/02/cam-newton-thinks-he-
should-be-getting-more-calls-for-hits-in-the-pocket-he-has-a-point/
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/