The NFL handed down postgame discipline to the New Orleans Saints after their matchup with the Carolina Panthers, with three players appearing on a league fine log tied to taunting, a violent gesture, and use of the helmet.
According to the fine listing, Saints player Kelvin Banks received the biggest fine at $11,593 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting). Devin Neal was fined $5,015 for unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture), while Danny Stutsman was docked $6,095 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet).
That trio of infractions matters for New Orleans for one simple reason: divisional games like Saints-Panthers are already high-emotion, high-flag environments, and the league is still sending a clear message about composure and player safety.
Key details from the fine log
- Kelvin Banks (Saints): Unsportsmanlike Conduct — Taunting — $11,593
- Devin Neal (Saints): Unsportsmanlike Conduct — Violent gesture — $5,015
- Danny Stutsman (Saints): Unnecessary Roughness — Use of the helmet — $6,095
Saints vs. Panthers doesn’t usually need extra fuel, but divisional matchups have a way of turning routine snaps into emotion plays, and that’s where taunting and post-whistle moments show up. New Orleans has been trying to tighten up the small stuff, because the fastest way to lose control of a close NFC South game is giving an opponent free yardage or extending drives with unnecessary flags. Even when the league handles discipline later through fines, the takeaway for the Saints is the same: keep the edge, lose the extras.
Saints Get Hit With NFL Discipline After Heated Moments vs Panthers
In-game flags are handled by officials in real time. The fine process is different: the NFL reviews plays after the fact and can issue discipline that doesn’t change the outcome, but does add consequences.
Two parts of this are worth noting for Saints fans:
First, the league labeling something as taunting or violent gesture is a big deal because those are the exact kinds of unsportsmanlike moments that can snowball into drive-killing penalties if they carry over into the next week.
Second, use of the helmet continues to be one of the NFL’s brightest lines. Even when a player isn’t suspended, the league’s fine log is a reminder that technique and safety emphasis remain under the microscope.
What It Means for New Orleans Going Forward
For Banks and Neal, this is mostly about avoiding a pattern. The Saints don’t need emotional penalties turning into automatic first downs for an opponent — especially in the NFC South, where games routinely swing on a handful of possessions.
For Stutsman, the “use of the helmet” tag is the one that tends to trigger the most coaching attention. Teams are quick to correct it because it’s both a player-safety issue and a consistency issue: once officials and the league have a player on their radar, borderline hits can get interpreted harshly.
There’s also a practical layer here: players can typically appeal fines, so there may be a second news beat if anything is reduced or upheld.
Why This Matters Today and What Happens Next
The urgency is simple: the Saints are trying to stack clean, efficient football, and the NFL just created a pressure point — clean up the details, or keep paying for them.
What to watch next:
- Whether any of the three Saints appeal their fines
- Whether coaches address discipline publicly this week
- Whether New Orleans plays cleaner in its next game: vs. the Jets on December 21.
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