NFL Star Has a Problem With $46,371 Punishment

Humphrey is currently in his ninth year in the league. He’s played his entire career with Baltimore, where he’s firmly established himself as one of the top CBs in the game.

Humphrey, however, has a history of punishments from the NFL. His most recent one was from their Week 8 victory over the Bears. Humphrey was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a hit on receiver Olamide Zaccheaus in the fourth quarter of the game. The league reviewed the incident, and it was announced on Saturday that Humphrey was fined $46,371.

The 29-year-old addressed the issue on Tuesday’s episode of his podcast, “The Marlon Humprey Show,” and the Ravens star took the opportunity to air his grievance, particularly with how he learned about the punishment.

 "When you play improperly, sometimes you get a envelope to your locker," he said. "And being that I don't have an agent, for some reason, they ain't been sending me the emails. People be telling me I got fined instead of me knowing I got fined.

"I'm not really feeling that. It's 2025. The best way to communicate ain't just via envelope."

Humphrey then went on to share his honest thoughts on the fine, including the fact that it was a second offense violation for him.

“Did I lower the helmet? I did,” Humprey admitted. “But here’s the thing. When I’m looking at the football, and the football’s right here [near an opponent’s chest], I’m not going to look down with my eyes on the football. … It’s just common sense. I can’t run up to him and put my chin on the football. I’m going to break my own neck.

“This is my problem. It says this is my second offense. I guess it’s from the Buffalo [Bills] game in the playoffs last year that got rescinded. So there’s some figuring out, and maybe I don’t know all the rules and the bylaws.”

For context, league rules indicate that a first offense for “impermissible use of the helmet” carries a fine of $23,186. That amount is doubled for succeeding offenses. According to Humphrey, however, his unnecessary roughness penalty against Josh Allen in last season’s Divisional Round loss to the Bills was rescinded.

Nevertheless, Humphrey owned up to his violation. He sent himself a stern reminder about playing more cautiously.

“Got to be a smarter player,” he said. “Play by the rulebook. What the shield is trying to promote is take the helmet out of the game, and I do respect that.”    

Humphrey and the Ravens will be back in action on Sunday. They will put their 3-5 record to the test against the 4-4 Minnesota Vikings in a road game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kickoff for that matchup is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.