In what would be a problematic twist, Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw is at risk of receiving a penalty up to and including a suspension following “Thursday Night Football” against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Greenlaw finished the contest, a 10-7 Broncos win, with 5 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection.
One of those stops is expected to at least earn a notice (i.e., a fine) from the NFL.
Dre Greenlaw Expected to Hear From NFL After Broncos-Raiders
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a stop against the Houston Texans.
Greenlaw has battled quad injuries and a one-game suspension, the latter the result of using what the league deemed “abusive” language toward referee Brad Allen during the Broncos’ win over the New York Giants in Week 7.
He made his presence felt in Week 10, his second game back from the suspension.
However, former Kansas City Chiefs star and Super Bowl champion Mitchell Schwartz said in a post on X on November 6 that “Greenlaw might be hearing from the NFL again this week.”
Schwartz posted a clip from the first quarter of the Broncos’ “Thursday Night Football” matchup, in which Greenlaw delivers a hit on Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who was already stumbling to the ground after Ja’Quan McMillian tackled him.
Greenlaw was not fined amid his suspension, but it was without pay.
This could result in a fine on the lighter end and more time off the field if the NFL determines that Greenlaw is a repeat offender.
Dre Greenlaw No Stranger to League Discipline
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Los Angeles Rams.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton praised Greenlaw’s physicality and how it impacts the defense. However, it has also gotten the former San Francisco 49ers star in trouble during his career.
According to Spotrac, Greenlaw has received five fines, totaling $51,383, in his six-plus seasons in the NFL.
One in particular stands out.
Greenlaw was fined $10,609 in Week 10 of the 2022 regular season while still with the 49ers for illegal use of his helmet on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He was ejected and the 49ers were penalized for the infraction.
That was not the case on “Thursday Night Football” against the Raiders. Former NFL QB Robert Griffin III defended Greenlaw at the time, arguing Herbert was tackled into that position.
Greenlaw has had other ejections, adding to the looming nature of his past for the Broncos.
NFL Used Dre Greenlaw to Set Tone
GettyDre Greenlaw #57 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a stop against the Houston Texans.
The NFL has levied fines for infractions that did not draw flags during games. Most notably this season, they suspended Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu one game for a hip-drop tackle. It was not called during the game. The suspension was reduced to a $100,000 fine.
That initial penalty is key, with Greenlaw having already drawn strong criticism from NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent over his remarks toward Allen.
“There’s just no place no no place in the game for that,” Vincent told Mike Florio on “Pro Football Talk” in October. “Also, I think it’s part of the message that the NFL wants to send to all lower levels of sport. We’ve seen incidents postgame at the youth level between coaches and officials. We don’t need that to happen. And I think if you take a strong stand with the Dre Greenlaw, maybe – maybe – it sends a message to the other.”
Greenlaw and the Broncos have to hope Vincent does not again make an example of him.
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