The most expensive mistake of the season cost a rookie just one play. Mansoor Delane, the first-round pick from LSU, was fined $12,537 for a single block against the Miami Dolphins. That price tag is massive for a single hit that didn’t even draw a flag on the field. The NFL sees things differently than the refs do, and the bill came down fast.
The Cost of a Low Block
The trouble started during a long drive by Miami in the first quarter. The Dolphins moved the ball 91 yards on 17 plays to score a touchdown. It was a rough day for the Chiefs defense, but one specific moment stood out to league officials. After a third-and-8 conversion, the ball sat at the Kansas City 15-yard line. Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis threw a short pass to wide receiver Malik Washington.
Delane and teammate Jaden Hicks combined to bring Washington down. There was no penalty called during the game, but the league reviewed the tape later. According to reports, Delane committed unnecessary roughness with a low block. This season marks the rookie’s initial fine. It’s a steep lesson for a player who was just drafted to help the secondary.
A Pattern of Penalties
Delane’s fine isn’t the only money leaving the Chiefs payroll for on-field actions. The team has now issued four separate fines this year. Earlier this year, Jaden Hicks received a $6,707 penalty for striking a quarterback’s head or neck. The incident occurred in Week 2 during a 33-30 overtime victory against the Colts. The league is cracking down hard on rough hits.
Other teammates have paid up too. In the season opener versus the Denver Broncos, running back Kenneth Walker was fined $8,000 for tossing the ball out of the end zone. Guard Trey Smith lost $6,750 for a chop block in that same game. The total cost for these four players adds up quickly. It shows that the NFL is watching every single move, even ones that slip past the referees.
