PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When you think about fines for leading with your head, it's almost always against a defensive player. However, it's a Steelers running back that is being fined more than he makes for his aggressive play.
Second-year tailback Jaylen Warren said Tuesday he got fined $48,000 recently for lowering his head when running (he appealed and got it down to $39,000 which he said is still a loss). He was fined again $48,000 for lowering his head while blocking. In the letter he received from the NFL, he said the reason it is so steep is he was fined twice last year and is still doing it this season.
He addressed both of the punishments this year with similar answers. First for lowering his head when running.
"I don't know what they want me to do," Warren said. "I'm not the type of dude that's going to run out of bounds. I try to get every yard I can get."
As for the lowering his head while blocking.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to hit dudes that are 350 pounds and two feet taller than me," the 5'8" Warren said. "I can't stand my ground and punch them, they will run me over. I try to enforce the hitting and it's getting to the point where it's costing me."
He said he's fined the same amount of money as linebacker TJ Watt ($28 million a season) would be for a penalty. There is no scale for NFL fines where someone who makes more would be fined a larger percentage or visa versa. Warren, on an undrafted rookie contract, makes roughly $51,000 a game, he said since the fines don't account for taxes, he twice lost money playing this year.
"I do play this game for the love, I love football," Warren said. "It sucks losing money, but I'm still enjoying football at the same time."
"They need to look at tight ends cutting too," said Steelers linebacker TJ Watt. "Tight ends lead with their helmets inside the box. As a defender, it seems like that's happening more and more where guys are leading with their heads. I think it's extremely egregious the amount of money a guy like that (Warren) is getting fined. It's ridiculous."
Warren said its money he should be giving to his family and the thing is on neither play was he penalized. So, in the live speed of the game, no one thought either hit was illegal.
"It sucks because it's so much money, I don't let it alter my play," Warren said. "If the same situation, I'm still doing what I'm doing."
"It's what got me on the team."
