Just in case anyone really thinks the National Football League finds every possible way to favor the Kansas City Chiefs, another piece of evidence to the contrary surfaced on Saturday with the news of a fine levied against Isiah Pachec.
Pacheco, the lead back for the Chiefs, was fined over $45,000 for the use of "unnecessary roughness", per NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. In the 19-17 victory over the Bolts, Pacheco was making only his second appearance since coming off of injured reserve when the following play occurred:
The NFL fined #Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco $45,020 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet) on this play last week. No flag was thrown. pic.twitter.com/mJrBBpuDig
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 14, 2024
That's Pacheco catching a short pass out of the backfield from Patrick Mahomes early in the game. As he lowers his head to gain some addiitonal yards, he collides with Chargers defensive back Kristian Fulton, who steps up to make the tackle.
Here's the thing where this gets ridiculous on a number of levels. No penalty flag was thrown. No player even seemed to take exception. Fulton went right on about his business, as did Pacheco. There were no words from coaches or refs conferring on the play.
Given the lack of drama at the moment it happened, why would the league step in to care? Six days after the game was concluded, the league is still figuring out ways to punish a player for a textbook play that never caused a scene in the first place. Giving Pacheco any sort of fine at this stage with a lack of intervention in the actual moment feels stupid.
Beyond that, however, the amount of the fine makes things even worse. Pacheco is a seventh-round selection playing on a rookie deal. He just missed the majority of the season due to a fractured fibula, so the performance-based pay that the NFL gives out to reward underpaid players is not going to be there for Pacheco this year.
Pacheco's cap hit is just over $1 million this season, but of course, taxes take a great percentage of that. Yet somehow, Pacheco is forking over the amount of a nice SUV for a hit that was never flagged in the first place.
Here's hoping the NFL Player's Association gets involved and helps lower the fine with an appeal for Pacheco's sake.