NFL reduces fine for Alex Anzalone, Lions LB questions league's decision not to rescind

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is questioning the NFL’s handling of a fine stemming from an incident in a game on Oct. 12. The league recently reviewed an appeal by Anzalone and reduced the amount he was fined.

Anzalone was initially tagged for a tripping incident in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs that was deemed unnecessary roughness. The league issued a $12,172 fine as a result.

However, Alex Anzalone appealed the decision. He did not deny that he committed the violation, but rather argued that the tripping was incidental contact.

The league agreed with him on the latter part and reduced the fine as a result, dropping it to $9,737. Anzalone seemed flabbergasted that the league could agree with him and yet still fine him for the action.

“Admitting it was incidental but still a $9k fine???” Anzalone wrote on Twitter. “I just don’t understand.”

Alex Anzalone, a former Florida star, attached the response to his appeal in his tweet via a screenshot. It includes some of the pertinent language on the ruling from the NFL.

“On appeal, Mr. Anzalone denied that he committed the violation,” the ruling read. “He further contended that regardless of whether or not he committed the violation, his fine should be reduced or rescinded because he had no intention of tripping the runner, rather he was in full speed mode when his opponent made a good football move and as he tried to stop, his momentum brought his leg up. His player representative contended that the tripping fine is for when a player is out of the play and trips the runner to get him down, however in this play Mr. Anzalone brought the runner down with his hands and there was no intent to trip his opponent.

“I have reviewed the video and determined that it clearly shows that Mr. Anzalone committed the violation in question. However, I have determined that his contact on the play in question was incidental and the fine should be reduced.”

The fine for Alex Anzalone was his first since the 2023 season, according to Spotrac. So he’s not a player with a history of incidents in the NFL.