It cost Teair Tart $12,172 to slap Travis Kelce in Brazil | Here’s how NFL fines actually work

Teair Tart’s slap on Travis Kelce in Brazil just cost him $12,172. | Images via Getty

Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart has been fined $12,172 for slapping Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to ESPN. The penalty matches the NFL’s fine for a first striking offense.The slap came in the third quarter of the Chargers’ 27-21 win in Week 1. Travis Kelce shoved Teair Tart after a play, and Tart fired back with an open-handed shot to Kelce’s helmet. The officials flagged Tart for unnecessary roughness but stopped short of ejecting him because the contact was open hand and not a punch.

Andy Reid questions why Teair Tart was not ejected after slapping Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made it clear he thought Teair Tart should have been tossed.“I don’t understand that rule,” Reid said. “I guess it’s open hand, fist, whatever, I don’t know. I don’t know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist.”Rules analyst Terry McAulay backed up the officials during the broadcast, explaining that NFL rules only call for an ejection when a closed fist is used. The league is set to confirm all fines from Week 1 on Saturday afternoon.

Teair Tart trolls Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift fans after the game

Teair Tart did not let the moment die down quietly. On Instagram, he posted a collage and wrote: “I’m too swift with it even in Brazil…”. The caption was widely seen as a reference to Travis Kelce’s engagement to singer Taylor Swift.Fans flooded the post with Swift-related comments and even racist memes. Teair Tart piled on with a clip from Dave Chappelle’s Rick James skit, the one where James says “what did the five fingers say to the face?” before delivering a slap.For Tart, this was also a milestone outing. It was his first start with the Los Angeles Chargers since signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract in the offseason. He had one tackle and batted down two passes. Travis Kelce, on the other hand, finished with two receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

NFL fine policy explains why Teair Tart’s slap on Travis Kelce cost $12,172

According to the official NFL/NFLPA fine schedule, the penalty for a first offense involving striking, kicking, tripping, or kneeing is $12,172. The full list of violations is collectively bargained between the league and the players’ union and is enforced by the NFL’s Football Operations compliance team.Fines are issued when officials flag a play during the game, when teams submit questionable plays, or when the NFL’s Officiating Department identifies potential violations during postgame film review. In Teair Tart’s case, the infraction was immediately flagged and reviewed.Players are notified by letter, with an explanation of the play, the rule they violated, and how much it will cost them. They also receive video evidence and information on how to appeal. If the player does not appeal, the amount is deducted from their next game check.Appeals are heard by one of three current appeals officers: Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson. They are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL and NFLPA. Each case is assigned at random, and once a decision is made, it is final.Importantly, none of the fine money goes to the league. All fines collected are split between the Professional Athletes Foundation, which supports retired players in need, and the NFL Foundation, which funds health and wellness programs for athletes and youth football across communities.Each year, roughly $4 million in fine money is directed to these causes.

Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs will meet again in December

The slap did not change the outcome. The Los Angeles Chargers still walked away with a 27-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs to open the AFC West race. Teair Tart got the last laugh on the scoreboard.The rivalry is far from over. The Chargers and Chiefs are set to clash again in Week 15 on Dec. 8 in Los Angeles, a rematch already circled by fans.

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