Fines Dealt After Playoff Fight
The NFL issued a record $154,000 in fines Tuesday to 23 players following a melee in the second half of Saturday's Detroit Lions-Washington Redskins first-round NFC playoff game.
Redskins guard Tre Johnson, who struck an official after order had been restored, received the biggest punishment: a $50,000 fine and a one-game suspension for the first game of next season.
Johnson, however, will be allowed to play in the Redskins' divisional playoff game Saturday at Tampa Bay.
Johnson's fine came in two parts: $30,000 for striking back judge Bill Leavy on the head, knocking off Leavy's cap in the process; and $20,000 for what the NFL called Johnson's extensive involvement in the fight.
"After deliberately engaging in conduct that directly violated the playing rules by fighting," commissioner Paul Tagliabue wrote in a letter to Johnson, "you then attempted to resume fighting after order had been restored. As a result, you struck a game official in what can only be described as knowing and deliberate conduct in complete disregard for both the rules of play and the safety of the game officials on the field."
Fifteen Redskins and eight Lions were fined for everything from fighting to "unnecessarily entering a fight area."
The fines surpassed the $145,500 issued to 35 Pittsburgh and Houston players for a fight at Three Rivers Stadium on Nov. 16, 1996.
The Redskins, who won 27-13, were leading 27-0 when the fight started. After the Lions' Stephen Boyd intercepted Brad Johnson's pass, defensive end Robert Porcher threw a block on the quarterback during the return.
Brad Johnson, who later called the block a "cheap shot," threw Porcher to the ground, and the two started to wrestle. Many players joined in and some Redskins came off the bench.
After order was restored, Tre Johnson continued to flail his arms toward the Detroit players. In doing so, he struck Leavy, who was trying to restrain him. Offsetting penalties were called, plus an additional unsportsmanlike penalty on Tre Johnson, who was ejected from the game.
Tre Johnson refused to speak to reporters Tuesday, saying: "I'll see you guys tomorrow." His only public explanation for the incident came in a brief postgame interview with a WJFK-FM, in which he said he did not see the official.
Brad Johnson was fined $12,500 for fighting. Porcher was fined $10,000 for ighting. Five other players were fined $7,500 for fighting.
Four Redskins were fined $5,000 for coming off the bench. Others were fined $3,000 or $1,500 for "unnecessarily entering a fight area."
Several Redskins players said their actions were justified because of Porcher's block on Brad Johnson.
"When someone goes after your quarterback, you've got to protect him," said guard Keith Sims, who was fined $7,500.
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