The NFL did the Ravens a favor by not disclosing the amount of the fines imposed on the team and coach John Harbaugh for violating the rules regarding offseason practices. That’s the extent of any gratuity given to the team or its coach.
The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement provides that the head coach “shall be subject to a fine in the amount of $100,000 for the first violation,” and the team “shall be subject to a fine in the amount of $250,000 for the first violation.” The base amount of the fines from 2011 increase each year based on growth in league revenue.
In this case, PFT has confirmed that the infraction resulted in fines of $137,223 for Harbaugh and $343,057 for the Ravens. (Jim Trotter of ESPN first reported the fine amounts.)
Article 21, Section 8 of the CBA permits the Commissioner, in consultation with the NFLPA, to reduce the fines if the conduct of the coach resulted from a “good faith” interpretation of the rules regarding offseason workouts or that the violation did not result in a material violation of the rules. Based on Trotter’s report, there was no reduction.
This means, as a practical matter, that the NFL didn’t buy the team’s claim that it made a “mistake” when it put players in pads during rookie minicamp. Ultimately, the NFL cut the Ravens no slack, imposing more than $480,000 in fines on the coach and his team.