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via Imago

via Imago

Football is a rough game, and everyone knows that. It is also well-known that the NFL has been trying hard to curb the unnecessary roughness in the game. One of the most popular methodologies to curb the infractions is fining the offending players. And it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks are the roughest of them all.

The penalties, in the form of fines, for rule violations have increased in 2023. Even a minor infraction of uniforms costs upwards of $5,000. However, the Steelers and the Seahawks don’t seem to mind too much.

The Steelers are leading the way but the Seahawks are not far away

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The Steelers are proving to be one of the nastiest teams in the NFL this season. The fines aren’t deterring hard-hitting LBs like TJ Watt. He is leading the charge for the Steelers in terms of infractions. With 25 to their name, they have the most infractions this season. While the Seahawks are trailing them on second.

At the Seahawks, the infraction duties are shared amongst WR DK Metcalf, RB DeeJay Dallas, and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks have 19 infractions for this season. With both teams still in the hunt for playoffs, expect these numbers to rise.

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3 weeks of play in the regular season remains. Even if both teams do not manage to make it to the playoffs, the NFL can certainly collect some more fines from them. But what happens to the fines collected from infractions?

Players pay fines to other players

Over the last decade, the NFL has collected more than $200 million from player fines alone. Though there is a mechanism by which the players can appeal these fines, rarely anyone ever does. And that is due to the cause behind the fines.

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The NFL only collects fine money, but the organization does not use it. The fines collected each year are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation. These foundations help former players and legends of the game in supporting their health, safety, and wellness.

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Since 2011, every year $4 million has been spent on these efforts. So while the Steelers and the Seahawks keep raking up the fines, they can at least find solace because their money is being spent on worthwhile causes.

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