The NFL gave the Cincinnati Bengals the coup de grace. Instead of going to rest and start planning for next season, quarterback Joe Burrow’s team learned on Friday that two of its players will have to pay fines for violations in the Week 18 game.
The 2024 NFL season was a disappointment for the Bengals. Fans and media expected the team to recover from the slump they experienced in 2023 and return to the postseason under Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor.
On the contrary, the team finished the season with a 9-8 record identical to 2023 and was relegated to third place in the AFC North. Last week’s game against the Steelers was vital to their aspirations, and although they won 19-17, they were left out of the postseason and with two players fined.
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Fines for the Bengals
After the bitter end to the season, with the Denver Broncos securing the last wild-card spot, the Bengals had to swallow more bad news when the NFL fined linebackers Germaine Pratt and Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Pratt was fined $22,511 for a helmet hit to the head of Steelers running back Najee Harris, while Davis-Gaither will have to pay $14,956 for a hip-drop tackle. Pittsburgh did not come out unscathed either, as receiver George Pickens was fined $25,211 for a face mask violation.
The end of the season was full of contrasts for Cincinnati. In the midst of a five-game winning streak that nearly got them into the playoffs, cornerback Josh Newton was also fined $4,885 for a “violent gesture” during a celebration in Week 17.
Cincinnati’s future
The Bengals’ front office has already begun restructuring. On the first Monday after the end of the regular season, the team announced the firing of offensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, paving the way for major moves during the offseason.
With Anarumo’s departure and the team’s lackluster performance this season, fans and analysts are wondering if head coach Zac Taylor is safe in his job. Since there has been no news on the matter, it’s possible that Cincinnati’s brass has decided to give their helmsman one last chance in 2025.