The NFL fined three Denver Broncos players, linebacker Jonathon Cooper, defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, and running back Blake Watson, for separate violations during the team’s 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. The penalties highlighted the heavy dose of discipline issues in a Broncos team fighting for a playoff spot under head coach Sean Payton.
Rookie running back Blake Watson was promoted to Denver’s 53-man roster just days before the game and was fined $4,463 for lowering his helmet against an opponent while attempting to gain extra yardage. The infraction came behind only his second NFL game after he signed a one-year contract with Denver for $88,334, making the fine a significant financial hit.
In the second quarter, defensive tackle Malcolm Roach received an $11,255 fine for taunting. This marks Roach’s third fine of the season, adding to penalties in Week 6 for a late hit and an obscene gesture against the New Orleans Saints, which cost him a combined $25,324. Roach’s previous antics on the field include mimicking strapping himself into a seatbelt to signify being “locked in,” have made him a repeat offender under the league’s conduct rules.
Linebacker Jonathon Cooper was fined $12,668 for a horse-collar tackle on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the fourth quarter. The infraction not only handed Los Angeles a critical 15 yards but also set up a touchdown pass to Derius Davis, followed by a successful two-point conversion, giving the Chargers a three-point advantage.
The fines come late in a season in which Denver ranks as the 12th most penalized team in the NFL with 101 infractions for 900 yards. Offensive holding and defensive pass interference have been the team’s primary issues, with offensive tackle Garett Bolles and cornerback Patrick Surtain II leading the team in individual penalties.
Denver is also one of ten teams with double-digit player fines this season, totaling 12 fines, trailing only the Miami Dolphins [14], New Orleans Saints [14], and New York Jets [13]. Denver’s Week 16 loss to the Chargers hurt the team’s postseason chances more than believed in retrospect, with a subsequent overtime defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Coach Payton opted not to attempt a two-point conversion in regulation, and he defended his decision, citing playoff scenarios in which both a win and a tie could have kept Denver’s postseason hopes alive.
“We spent some time thinking about going for two,” Payton admitted after the game. “We knew a tie was just as beneficial as a win. We felt like we had the momentum at that point. In the end, we didn’t make enough plays, [and] they did.”