Drake London’s November has gotten pricey in a hurry.
The Atlanta Falcons wideout was fined again this week, with the NFL’s accountability report showing a $23,882 unnecessary roughness penalty for use of his helmet. It’s the second straight fine London has taken on in November, and this one came after Atlanta’s 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain, in Week 9.
The play happened late in the third quarter after Michael Penix Jr. found London on a pass. London turned the catch into a 21-yard gain, then lowered his helmet into Bengals defensive back DJ Turner’s chest near the end of the run before stepping out of bounds. No flag came out on the field, but the league reviewed it afterward and decided the hit crossed the line.
That fine matched the largest of Week 9, alongside the $23,882 unnecessary roughness penalty handed to Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones.
London’s first November fine came after Atlanta’s 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 1.
The league docked him $12,537 for unnecessary roughness on a play classified as “striking/kicking/kneeling.” That one came after he hit linebacker Alex Anzalone following Anzalone’s interception of Penix.
Add the two together, and London has been fined more than $36,000 this month alone.
The timing hasn’t helped the Falcons, either. Both fines came in losses, and Atlanta has now dropped two straight to fall to 3-6 and sit last in the NFC South.
The team has been flagged 60 times this season, costing 538 yards, though Atlanta is still only 21st in the NFL in penalties.
Even with the discipline issues and the team’s skid, London’s season is still moving along at a strong pace. He has 692 receiving yards and a touchdown through nine games, and he’ll need a strong finish if he wants to match or top his previous career bests of 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns.
Atlanta has two games left this month, starting with a home matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 15. After that, the Falcons go on a bye before traveling to face Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings later in November.
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