Week 18 football in the NFL isn’t always exciting, especially when teams that are already out of the postseason are playing each other, but nothing is further than the case for the Seattle Seahawks. The team goes up against the San Francisco 49ers in a Saturday night showdown on January 3 in a game that will decide both team’s postseasons.
Now, one 49ers player is getting a call from the NFL just hours before the team’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Each week during the NFL’s season, the league hands down punishments to players for actions that happened during the previous week’s games. The NFL states on their official website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” Ahead of the season each year, the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that result in these accountability measures.
San Francisco 49ers Player Punished Ahead of Seattle Seahawks Showdown
On Saturday, January 3, the NFL announced that they’re punishing 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune for his actions in the team’s game against the Chicago Bears, which ended with a 42-28 victory for the 49ers. The NFL is fining him $5,447, one of the lowest fines of the week, for “unnecessary roughness” and a facemask violation at the 7:14 mark in the fourth quarter of the game.
If Bethune wants to appeal the fine, he’s allowed to do so. According to the NFL, “Cases are heard by appeals officers and former NFL players, Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL/NFLPA.” After the final look-over, though, “the decisions made are final and binding.”
But, considering the fine is so low, Bethune will likely just pay up. If he does, it will go to a good cause, because the funds raised from all fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”
Bethune wasn’t suspended for his actions, so he’s expected to play in the team’s game against the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers Game is Important
As mentioned earlier, the stakes are high for the Seahawks and 49ers game. The winner, according to research from the NFL, gets the division title and the crucial NFC top seed, giving them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the course of the playoffs. That’s why this game is purpose-made for prime time.
“Seattle has emerged as one of the league’s most complete teams, led by the second-best scoring defense in the NFL,” note Nick Wagoner Brady Henderson of ESPN. “The Niners have been the opposite, carving a path to the postseason on the strength of a high-octane offense that ranks fifth in offensive points per game and first since Week 9.”
They add, “Add it all up and the expectation on both sides is for another classic that could come down to the final seconds, if not the final yard.”
So, no matter who wins, this game will likely bring fireworks bigger than what you saw on New Year’s Eve.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Punishes 49ers Player Hours Before Seahawks Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.