Two Colts defensive backs are taking preseason discipline in the wallet, even though neither was flagged during the games where the incidents happened.
Cam Taylor-Britt was fined $7,791 for unnecessary roughness after a play in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, while Trey Washington was hit with a $5,583 fine for a facemask in the preseason loss to Atlanta. In both cases, the officials did not throw a flag on the field.
Washington’s penalty came in the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium, when Falcons quarterback Jack Strand connected with wide receiver Chris Blair for 20 yards. Washington was listed as one of the two tacklers on the play, and former Colts cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was also involved in the stop.
Taylor-Britt’s fine came on a tackle of Lions running back Trayveon Williams in the second quarter of the finale. The NFL cited that play in issuing the fine, saying only that Taylor-Britt was penalized for striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing, without specifying which part of the rule was at issue. The tackle limited Williams to a 1-yard gain at the line of scrimmage.
Across the league, 30 NFL players were fined during the preseason. The range ran from two fines of $4,917 to a $12,537 fine for Cleveland offensive tackle Tytus Howard.
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association, the league uses an on-field conduct code with a set schedule of infractions and fines. The agreement also caps any fine at 10% of a player’s game check, which can result in smaller penalties than the listed amount for a violation.
The money collected from those fines goes to the Professional Athletes Foundation to help members of the NFL Legends Community in need, and to the NFL Foundation to support youth football.
Taylor-Britt, listed as the Colts’ No. 4 cornerback, will not be available for the season opener against the Ravens because of a one-game suspension tied to a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Washington is on the team’s practice squad.
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