Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders found themselves in familiar territory in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season, as star defensive end Maxx Crosby was hit with a $15,000 fine by the league for “unsportsmanlike conduct”—marking the third time a Raiders player has been fined in the last two months. The incident, which occurred during a heated fourth-quarter exchange with a Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman, reignited debates about NFL fine policies, player conduct enforcement, and whether the Raiders are being disproportionately targeted. Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders examines the details of Crosby’s fine, the team’s recent history with league discipline, fan and player reactions, and the broader implications for how the NFL polices on-field behavior. For a Raiders team already navigating playoff pressure, these repeated fines aren’t just financial setbacks—they’re distractions that test team morale and public perception.

Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders begins with the specifics of Crosby’s fine, which stemmed from a Week 15 altercation in the Raiders’ 28-24 loss to the Chiefs. With 2:17 left in the game and the Raiders trailing by four points, Crosby was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after shoving Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor following a play. The NFL’s subsequent disciplinary notice stated the fine was for “aggressive physical contact with an opponent after the whistle, in violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1”—a rule that prohibits “unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike acts that provoke an opponent.” Crosby, who leads the Raiders with 16 sacks this season, disputed the fine, calling the call “overly aggressive” in a post-practice interview. “I was protecting myself—Taylor was holding me the entire drive, and the refs didn’t call it,” Crosby said. “Then when I push back once, I get fined? It feels like we’re held to a different standard sometimes.” The fine is Crosby’s first of the season, but it follows similar penalties for teammates: running back Josh Jacobs was fined \(10,000 in Week 11 for “excessive celebration,” and cornerback Nate Hobbs was hit with a \)12,500 fine in Week 13 for “illegal contact” with a receiver.

A deeper look at the Raiders’ recent disciplinary history, highlighted in Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders, reveals a pattern of fines that has frustrated players and fans alike. Since the start of the 2025 season, Raiders players have been fined a total of \(62,500 across five incidents—more than double the league average for teams in the AFC West. The most controversial of these came in Week 8, when tight end Foster Moreau was fined \)8,000 for a “low block” that replay footage appeared to show was legal. The Raiders appealed the fine but lost, with the NFL stating the block “violated the spirit of player safety rules.” This string of fines has led some to question whether the Raiders are being targeted, given that similar plays by players on other teams have gone unpenalized. “It’s not just one fine—it’s a pattern,” said former NFL referee Mike Carey, now a rules analyst for ESPN. “I’ve seen identical plays by Chiefs or Broncos players that didn’t result in fines. The Raiders have a reputation for physical play, and sometimes that reputation can influence how officials and the league office enforce the rules.”

Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders also explores the team’s response to the fines, which has been a mix of public support for players and private appeals to the league. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels addressed Crosby’s fine in a press conference, calling it “disappointing” and saying the team would “explore all options” to appeal. The Raiders’ front office has also been vocal behind the scenes, with general manager Trent Baalke reportedly meeting with NFL executives in Week 14 to discuss “consistency in discipline.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, the fines aren’t just about money—they’re about maintaining team culture. “We encourage our players to play with passion and physicality, but we also teach them to respect the rules,” McDaniels said. “When fines feel inconsistent, it’s hard to balance that. We need a league that enforces rules the same way for every team, every player.” The team’s players have echoed this sentiment, with Jacobs tweeting after his Week 11 fine: “Celebrating a touchdown with my teammates gets me fined? But other guys can trash-talk all game and nothing happens? Make it make sense.”

Another angle of the controversy, explored in Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders, is fan reaction—with Raiders supporters taking to social media to criticize the NFL and defend their players. A petition on Change.org titled “Stop Targeting Las Vegas Raiders Players with Unfair Fines” has garnered over 25,000 signatures, with fans arguing the league is “punishing the Raiders for their physical style of play” while ignoring similar infractions by other teams. At a recent home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, fans held up signs reading “Stop the Fines” and “Let Them Play,” and booed when a referee called a holding penalty on Crosby in the second quarter. For the Las Vegas Raiders, fan support has been a bright spot amid the disciplinary frustrations. “Our fans get it—they know we play hard, but we play clean,” Crosby said. “Having them in our corner when things like this happen means a lot. It’s not just us against the league—it’s us and the fans together.”

Looking at the broader implications, Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders examines how these fines fit into a larger NFL debate about player conduct and discipline. The league has faced criticism in recent years for inconsistent enforcement of rules—from unsportsmanlike conduct to helmet-to-helmet hits—with players, coaches, and analysts arguing that the disciplinary process lacks transparency. In 2024, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) even proposed a “discipline review board” made up of former players and coaches to oversee fines and suspensions, but the league rejected the idea. For the Las Vegas Raiders, these repeated fines have made them unlikely advocates for reform. “The current system isn’t working,” Baalke said in a recent interview. “We need clear, consistent rules that are enforced the same way for every team. Until that happens, you’ll keep seeing situations where teams feel like they’re being targeted.” The Raiders have also joined forces with other AFC West teams to push the league for more transparency, with Broncos and Chargers executives reportedly supporting their efforts.

Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders concludes with a uncertain outlook: while the Raiders plan to appeal Crosby’s fine, past appeals suggest the odds of success are low. Even if the appeal fails, though, the incident has sparked a larger conversation about NFL discipline that could lead to changes down the line. For the Raiders, the immediate focus is on the playoffs—but the fines remain a lingering distraction. “We can’t let this affect our performance,” McDaniels said. “We have to keep playing hard, keep following the rules, and trust that eventually, the discipline will be consistent.” For fans, the fines have only strengthened their loyalty to the team, turning the Raiders into a symbol of resistance against what many see as unfair league practices. In the end, Trouble Again with Fine for Player on the Las Vegas Raiders isn’t just a story about a $15,000 penalty—it’s a story about competition, fairness, and the ongoing tension between the NFL’s desire to police conduct and a team’s right to play with passion.