Not that it will matter much now, but at least the NFL admitted the referees made a mistake during the Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game on Thursday last week. On Saturday, the league announced the fines for Week 14, and Lions edge rusher Za’Darius Smith was fined $6,722 for a play made against Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
The designation of the punishment was because of roughing the Passer — blow to the head/neck area. The penalty was not called at the moment of the game.
There were several controversial calls during Lions-Packers, especially late in the game. The most notable ones were the offensive pass interferences — one called against Christian Watson, nullifying a receiving touchdown from Josh Jacobs, and then another one that was not called against the Lions on the following drive.
Either way, as head coach Matt LaFleur says, you can’t leave the game in the hands of the officials. And the NFL made the former Packers edge defender pay a little bit for his mistake.
Za’Darius Smith played for the Packers between 2019 and 2021. He had two strong seasons in Green Bay, but missed most of his third year with a back injury and ended up being cut. Since then, he has played for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, highlighting how important it was for him to play against the Packers.
Za’Darius was not the only Lions player fined for his actions against the Packers. Guard Christian Mahogany was punished $4,609 because of a facemask in the fourth quarter.