New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was fined twice by the NFL for unnecessary roughness in last week’s 22-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, totaling $23,976.
The first fine, amounting to $13,367, was issued because Jones dropped to the ground in front of Bengals cornerback Eli Apple during a return of a possible fumble.
Apple referred to this as a “dirty play,” but Jones explained it was an attempt to impede Apple’s path to another Patriots player chasing the play.
The second fine, $10,609, was related to Jones’ attempt to recover running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s lost fumble late in the fourth quarter.
Jones, 24, explained his actions after the game, stating: “There’s a little bit of a pile there and then the ball squirted out into another pile; I went over there and tried to grab the ball to save the game.
At the end of the day, you’ve got to take your chance and try to get the ball, compete for the ball, because it’s a live ball until somebody holds it up in the air. You got to go get it, and that’s what I tried to do.”
Mac Jones (Photo: Getty Images)
This marks the second game this season in which Jones has been fined. He previously incurred a $10,609 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct for flipping the ball at a Bills defender in a 24-10 loss on December 1.
Jones’ tackle attempt last week drew Apple’s ire, leading Apple to strike Jones in the helmet after getting to his feet. After the game, Apple told: “He tripped me. I thought it was a dirty play. He’s done that before, I’ve seen it.”
When asked Wednesday about being labeled a dirty player, Jones responded: “Everybody has an opinion, and the biggest thing for me is focusing on being the best teammate I can be and earning the respect of the people in this building and the people I care about.
Obviously, I have respect for everybody around the league … we’re all playing hard and trying to win.”
The dollar amount for fines is determined as part of the collective bargaining agreement.
