NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 42
Club Discipline


  • Section 1. Maximum Discipline
    (a)

    Where it appears in this Article, the term “Progressive Discipline” shall mean: for a first offense, 40% of the maximum fine; for a second offense, 70% of the maximum fine; for a third offense, 100% of the maximum fine. Nothing shall preclude a Club from issuing a warning in lieu of a fine, or from imposing a fine that is less than the maximum amount under this Subsection (a); provided, however, that any subsequent violation of the same provision will subject the player to the maximum Progressive Discipline fine for a second or third offense, as applicable. For example, without limitation to other examples, if a player is late reporting for a mandatory meeting on two occasions, and the Club issues a warning letter to the player on both occasions, the player will be subject to a maximum fine of 100% of the maximum fine (i.e., $2,745 under Subsection 1(b)(ii) below) for any third violation. For the sake of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, the Progressive Discipline requirement set forth in this Subsection (a) shall not apply to any fine under Subsections 1(b)(vi)-(ix) or 1(b)(xi), or to any fine or suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the Club under Subsections 1(b)(xvi) or (xvii).

    (b)

    2020-2021 League Years. For the 2020 and 2021 League Years, the following maximum discipline schedule will be applicable:

    (b)(i)

    Overweight— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $730 per lb., which fine may be assessed no more than twice per week, with each week beginning on Monday and ending on Sunday, and with each fine at least three days apart (e.g., Monday–Thursday, Tuesday–Friday, etc.).

    (b)(ii)

    Unexcused late reporting for mandatory off-season minicamp, meeting, practice, transportation, curfew, scheduled appointment with Club physician or trainer, scheduled promotional activity, scheduled workout, weigh-in, or meal— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $2,745.

    (b)(iii)

    Failure to promptly report injury to Club physician or trainer— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $2,745.

    (b)(iv)

    Losing, damaging or altering Club-provided equipment— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $2,745, and replacement cost, if any.

    (b)(v)

    Throwing football into stands— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $2,745.

    (b)(vi)

    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from preseason training camp by a player under contract except those signed as (1) an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 9; or (2) a Drafted or Undrafted Rookie pursuant to Article 7—mandatory fine of $50,000 per day. For the avoidance of doubt, any such fines shall be mandatory, and shall not be reduced in amount or waived by the Club, in whole or in part, but must be paid by the player or deducted by the Club as provided in Section 5(b) of this Article. For purposes of this Subsection (vi) and Subsections (vii)-(ix) below, preseason training camp shall be defined as the period beginning with the mandatory reporting date for any player through the Sunday immediately preceding the first game of the NFL regular season.

    (b)(vii)

    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from preseason training camp by a player under contract signed as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 9—mandatory fine of $50,000 per day, plus one week’s Paragraph 5 Salary for each preseason game missed. For the avoidance of doubt, any such fines shall be mandatory, and shall not be reduced in amount or waived by the Club, in whole or in part, but must be paid by the player or deducted by the Club as provided in Section 5(b) of this Article.

    (b)(viii)

    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from preseason training camp by a player under contract signed as a Drafted or Undrafted Rookie, pursuant to Article 7, except for a player in the fifth League Year of his Rookie Contract (the option year) after his Club has exercised the Fifth-Year Option pursuant to Article 7, Section 7— fine of $40,000 per day.

    (b)(ix)

    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from preseason training camp by a player in the fifth League Year of his Rookie Contract (the option year) after his Club has exercised the Fifth-Year Option pursuant to Article 7, Section 7 shall subject the player to the discipline set forth in Article 7, Section 7(g).

    (b)(x)

    Unexcused missed mandatory meeting, practice, curfew, scheduled appointment with Club physician or trainer, material failure to follow Club rehabilitation directions, scheduled promotional activity, scheduled workout, weigh-in, or meal— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $14,650.

    (b)(xi)

    Unexcused failure to report to or unexcused departure from mandatory offseason minicamp—maximum fine of $15,515 for the first missed day, $31,030 for the second missed day, and $46,540 for the third missed day (e.g., a player who misses all three days of minicamp may be fined up to $93,085).

    (b)(xii)

    Material failure to follow rehabilitation program prescribed by Club physician or trainer— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $14,650.

    (b)(xiii)

    Unexcused missed team transportation— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $14,650 and transportation expense, if any.

    (b)(xiv)

    Loss of all or part of playbook, scouting report or game plan— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $14,650 .

    (b)(xv)

    Ejection from game— Progressive Discipline, up to a maximum fine of $38,785.

    (b)(xvi)

    Any material curfew violation the night prior to the Club’s game may be considered conduct detrimental to the Club upon player’s first offense.

    (b)(xvii)

    Conduct detrimental to Club—maximum fine of an amount equal to one week’s salary and/or suspension without pay for a period not to exceed four (4) weeks. This maximum applies without limitation to any deactivation of a player in response to player conduct (other than a deactivation in response to a player’s on-field playing ability), and any such deactivation, even with pay, shall be considered discipline subject to the limits set forth in this section. The Non-Injury Grievance Arbitrator’s decision in Terrell Owens (Nov. 23, 2005) is thus expressly overruled as to any Club decision to deactivate a player in response to the player’s conduct.

    (c)

    Maximum Discipline in Other League Years. The amounts set forth in Section 1(b) above and Section 7 below are for the 2020 and 2021 League Years. The amounts for the 2022–2030 League Years shall be as set forth in Exhibit A to this Article.

    EXHIBIT A
    MAXIMUM FINE AMOUNTS FOR 2022–2030 LEAGUE YEARS
    Maximum Discipline for:202220232024202520262027202820292030
    Overweight / lbs per day $752$775$798$822$847$872$898$925$953
    Unexcused late reporting for an activity that has been listed in Article 42, Section 1(b)(ii), e.g., meal$2,827$2,912$2,999$3,089$3,182$3,277$3,375$3,476$3,580
    Failure to promptly report injury$2,827$2,912$2,999$3,089$3,182$3,277$3,375$3,476$3,580
    Losing, damaging or altering Club-provided equipment$2,827$2,912$2,999$3,089$3,182$3,277$3,375$3,476$3,580
    Throwing football into stands $2,827$2,912$2,999$3,089$3,182$3,277$3,375$3,476$3,580
    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from preseason training camp by a player under contract, except for those signed as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 9 or a Drafted or Undrafted Rookie pursuant to Article 7; fine for each day of player’s absence $50,000$50,000$50,000$50,000$60,000$60,000$60,000$60,000$60,000
    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from pre-season training camp by a player under contract signed as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 9; fine for each day of player's absence, plus one week’s Paragraph 5 Salary for each preseason game missed $50,000$50,000$50,000$50,000$60,000$60,000$60,000$60,000$60,000
    Unexcused late reporting for or absence from pre-season training camp by a player under contract signed as a Drafted or Undrafted Rookie, except for a player in fifth League Year of Rookie Contract (option year) after Club has exercised Fifth-Year Option pursuant to Article 7, Section 7; fine for each day of player’s absence $40,000$40,000$40,000$40,000$45,000$45,000$45,000$45,000$45,000
    Unexcused failure to report to or unexcused departure from mandatory off-season minicamp–maximum fine per day for each day thereafter of player’s absence 
    1st Day$15,980$16,459$16,953$17,462$17,986$18,526$19,082$19,654$20,244
    2nd Day$31,961$32,920$33,908$34,925$35,973$37,052$38,164$39,309$40,488
    3rd Day$47,936$49,374$50,855$52,381$53,952$55,571$57,238$58,955$60,724
    Cumulative fine amounts for preseason training camp$31,956$32,915$33,902$34,919$35,967$37,046$38,157$39,302$40,481
    Cumulative fine amounts for regular season or postseason$43,142$44,436$45,769$47,142$48,556$50,013$51,513$53,058$55
    Material failure to follow rehabilitation program prescribed by Club physician$15,090$15,543$16,009$16,489$16,984$17,494$18,019$18,560$19,117
    Unexcused missed activity that has been listed in Article 42, Section 1(b)(x), e.g., missed meal$15,090$15,543$16,009$16,489$16,984$17,494$18,019$18,560$19,117
    Unexcused missed team transportation (transportation expenses not included)$15,090$15,543$16,009$16,489$16,984$17,494$18,019$18,560$19,117
    Loss of all or part of playbook, scouting report or game plan$15,090$15,543$16,009$16,489$16,984$17,494$18,019$18,560$19,117
    Ejection from game $39,949$41,147$42,381$43,652$44,962$46,311$47,700$49,131$50,605

  • Section 2. Published Lists
    (a)

    All Clubs must publish and make available to all players at the commencement of preseason training camp a complete list of the discipline that can be imposed for both designated offenses within the limits set by the maximum schedule referred to in Section 1 above and for other violations of reasonable Club rules. A Club may notify a player of a violation by providing written notice to the player at the Club or at any address where the Club reasonably expects the player to be located.

    (b)

    The Club will promptly notify the player of any discipline; notice of any Club fine under Subsection 1(b)(vi)-(ix) and of any “conduct detrimental” fine or suspension will be sent to the NFLPA.

  • Section 3. Uniformity
    (a)

    Discipline will be imposed uniformly within a Club on all players for the same offense; however, if the Club’s published list of discipline imposes fines for designated offenses that are less than the limits set by the maximum schedule set forth in Section 1(b) above, the Club may specify the events which create an escalation of the discipline, not to exceed such maximum limits, provided the formula for escalation is uniform in its application. Nothing in this Section 3 shall preclude any Club from imposing a fine and/or a suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the Club, as set forth in Section 1(b)(xvii) above, in any case in which the same player has committed repeated offenses, which offenses need not be in the same disciplinary category, in the same League Year, whether or not the fines imposed for the player’s prior offenses were escalated as described in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section or pursuant to Progressive Discipline, as described in Section 1(a) above; provided, however, that (i) unless otherwise permitted under this Agreement or arbitration precedent, no Club may impose a fine and/or suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the Club prior to the player’s fourth violation in the same League Year of any category listed in Subsections 1(b)(ii)-(v), 1(b)(x), and 1(b)(xii)-(xv) above, which offenses need not be in the same disciplinary category; (ii) multiple violations of such Subsections on the same day (e.g., unexcused missed mandatory meeting, scheduled appointment with trainer, and practice) shall subject the player to a separate fine for each such offense within the limits set forth in Sections 1 and 7 of this Article, but shall not be deemed repeated offenses within the same League Year for the purposes of this sentence; and (iii) no fine under Subsection 1(b)(i) (Overweight) may serve as the predicate, in whole or in part, for the imposition of discipline under Subsection 1(b)(xvii) (Conduct Detrimental to the Club). The NFLPA expressly reserves the right to challenge the imposition of such discipline for conduct detrimental to the Club based upon the absence of just cause and/or any other allowable bases for opposing discipline.

    (b)

    Any disciplinary action imposed upon a player by the Commissioner pursuant to Article 46 will preclude or supersede disciplinary action by the Club for the same act or conduct.

  • Section 4. Disputes

    Any dispute involving Club discipline must be processed exclusively under Article 43.

  • Section 5. Deduction
    (a)

    For the 2020 and 2021 League Years, any Club fine will be deducted at the rate of no more than $3,500 from each pay period, if sufficient pay periods remain; or, if less than sufficient pay periods remain, the fine will be deducted in equal installments over the number of remaining pay periods. For the 2022–2025 League Years, the rate at which fines may be deducted from each pay period will increase from $3,500 to $4,000. For the 2026–2030 League Years the rate will increase from $4,000 to $5,000. Nothing in this Subsection (a) will apply to a suspension or for a fine under Subsections 1(b)(vi)-(ix).

    (b)

    A fine under Subsections 1(b)(vi)-(ix) may be deducted from any payments owed to a player under any NFL Player Contract with the Club, or from any salary, bonus installments, Performance-Based Pay, Postseason Pay, Severance Pay or Termination Pay otherwise owed by the Club. The assignment and/or termination of a player’s contract after events triggering a fine under Subsections 1(b)(vi)-(ix) shall not result in any waiver of the assigning or terminating Club’s right to seek to recover the full amount of the fines.

  • Section 6. NFL Policies

    No Club may impose any discipline against a player, including but not limited to terminating the player’s Player Contract, as a result of that Player’s violation of the Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances (formerly known as the Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances) or the Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse, or for failing any drug test, provided, however, that the fact that a player has violated either Policy, or has failed a drug test, will not preclude the termination of his Player Contract if such termination is otherwise expressly permissible under this Agreement or the player’s Player Contract.

  • Section 7. Cumulative Fines

    Any player who commits multiple offenses on the same day (e.g., missed mandatory team meeting, late for practice and missed scheduled appointment with trainer) shall be subject to a separate fine for each such offense, within the limits set by the maximum schedule set forth in Section 1 above; provided, however, that the cumulative amount for all such fines on a given day during preseason training camp shall not exceed $31,025, and that the cumulative amount for all such fines on a given day during the regular season or postseason shall not exceed $41,885. The cumulative fine limits set forth in this Section shall not apply to any violation as to which a player may be fined one week’s regular season salary or to conduct detrimental to the Club. Nothing in this Section shall preclude the Club from denying payment of the Player’s weekly salary or from seeking reimbursement from the Player under any forfeiture provision in the Player’s Contract if such denial of payment or forfeiture is otherwise permissible under both the Player’s Contract and this Agreement. Nor shall anything in this Section preclude a Club from imposing a fine and/or suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the Club, as set forth in Section 1(b) above, in any case in which the same player has committed repeated offenses in the same League Year, as described in Section 3 above; provided, however, that the NFLPA expressly reserves the right to challenge the imposition of such discipline for conduct detrimental to the Club based upon the absence of just cause and/or any other allowable bases for opposing discipline.

  • Section 8. Effective Date

    The maximum discipline rules set forth above apply to all discipline imposed on or after the effective date of this Agreement.