Once Cam came back to Carolina, a meme saying he is fined for giving footballs to kids in the stands started floating around. It's not true.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was an early Christmas present for Panthers fans, Cam Newton came back to Carolina. But as soon as he was back, a meme started floating around saying every time Cam Newton gives a child in the stands a ball, he is fined $5,512.
The meme first went viral back in 2015 during the Panthers run to the Super Bowl.
THE QUESTION
Does Cam Newton get fined every time he hands a child in the stands a ball?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, Cam Newton does not get fined every time he hands a child in the stands a ball.
WHAT WE FOUND
Cam’s tradition, now known as the "Sunday Giveaway," started during Cam's rookie season in 2011. After scoring a touchdown against Washington, Mike Shula, who was the Panthers quarterback coach at the time, told Cam to find a kid and give them the ball as a way to give back. Cam has been doing it ever since, making dreams come true for kids, and sometimes even adults.
According to the NFL’s schedule of infractions and fines, players are fined $7,210 for a first offense and $12,360 for a second offense. However, this fine is usually reserved for when players throw or kick the ball into the stands. It’s all about safety and making sure there isn’t a fight over who gets the ball.
Because Cam hands the ball to a single child, he does not get fined.
Spotrac shows Cam has only been fined five times in his career. None of them are for giving a child a ball in the stands.
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FAQs
NFL Fine for Throwing a Football into the Stands, Plus Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors
| Violation | First Offense | Second Offense |
|---|
| Taunting | $10,300 | $15,450 |
| Football Into Stands | $7,210 | $12,360 |
| Uniform |
| Foreign Substances on Body/Uniform | $5,150 | $10,300 |
30 more rowsIf a player picks out a fan in the crowd and directly hands them a football, they avoid a fine. However, if the athlete hurls the ball into the stands crammed with spectators, they will receive a fine from the league.
How much does a NFL player get fined for throwing a ball into the stands? ›
Players must hand the ball to one fan. They can't randomly throw or kick it into the crowd, as that could potentially lead to fights in the stands. Doing this can result in a $7,210 fine for a first offense and $12,360 for a second offense.
What can you get fined for in football? ›
Players can be fined for several types of on-field violations, under the following categories:
- Unnecessary Roughness (use of helmet, roughing the passer, crackback blocks)
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct Towards An Opposing Player (taunting, fighting, unsportsmanlike gestures)
Players are not allowed to intentionally throw, kick, or send the ball into the stands for any reason. Any violation of this rule results in both a technical foul and ejection.”
Are NFL fines donated? ›
The fines collected are donated 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.
Who is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
Who is the highest paid NFL player? ›
The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow is the highest paid player in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa is the highest paid defensive player in the league.
Who is the most fined player in the NFL? ›
1. Adrian Peterson
- Total fine amount: $2,073,529.
- Team (s) played for: Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions.
- Position: Running back.
Dan Snyder
Now officially an independent operator outside of the Commanders' purview, Snyder's $60 million fine from a financial misconduct investigation by former SEC chair Mary Jo White is by far the largest in league history. A fitting parting gift to one of the worst owners pro football has ever seen.
They earn a weekly salary but only during the season with conditions set on whether they play and how they perform. Like other workers they get bonuses that are paid outside the regular schedule of payments. In order to understand how NFL players get paid, a look at different parts of their contracts is needed.
Do players get fined for giving away footballs? ›
Are NFL Players Fined for Giving Away Footballs? According to the NFL's football operations website, throwing a football into the stands does incur a fine. However, just giving a ball to a fan is not.
Do NFL players get fined for throwing a helmet? ›
The NFL fined Chubb in the amount of $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing his helmet in the field of play in frustration after QB Will Levis got away from him and turned a sack that would have pushed Tennessee out of field goal range into a 5-yard gain.
Can NFL players get married during the season? ›
Players will also get married during the summer "break" between the end of the offseason program and the start of camp -- a five-week cushion before the true grind begins. Once the season starts, you are a professional football player. And the coach doesn't have time for wedding parties or open bars.
What happens if a football goes into the stands? ›
This means that if a player throws or kicks the ball into the stands during the game, the ball cannot be kept by the fan who catches it. Instead, it must be returned to the field of play or given to a member of the home team.
What is an illegal throw in football? ›
the ball must be thrown perpendicular to the touch-line (in the modern game, the ball may be thrown in any direction) the manner in which the ball is thrown is not specified (in the modern game, the ball must be thrown with two hands from above the head)
