The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to overhaul the fines system for on-field acts by players that violate the league’s health and safety rules, emphasizing punishment for repeat offenders while relieving the financial burden on players for single infractions. Here are the details, sources informed of the agreement tell @ringer @netflixsports: 🏈 Five categories of fouls — hip-drop tackle, horse-collar tackle, launching, illegal blindside blocks and hits on defenseless players — will now trigger a suspension if a player commits three fouls in a single category. (One player would’ve met this threshold each of the past two seasons: Azeez Al-Shaair in 2024 and Frankie Luvu in 2025.) 🏈 Players who are fined for just one foul in one of those five “major” categories will get 50% of their fine money back if they don’t get fined again for that foul during the season. (If a player is fined again for a foul in a different category, he will not receive the refund for that second foul.) 🏈 Players who are fined for just one foul in any other player safety category — e.g. use of helmet, roughing the passer, leg whip, etc. — will get 100% of their fine money back if they don’t get fined again for that foul during the season. (If a player is fined again for a foul in a different category, he will not receive the refund for that second foul.) 🏈 Had this refund system been in place in past years, an average of roughly $1.7 million would’ve been returned to hundreds of players each season, with the vast majority of fines handed out to one-time offenders. 🏈 A player’s fine record will be adjusted at the end of each season, rather than needing to go 34 games (two full seasons) without an infraction to exit repeat offender status. For instance: If a player has one “point” towards a suspension at the end of the season, he will drop to zero entering the following season; if he has two points, he’ll drop to one. (One caveat: A player who has consecutive seasons with one violation will retain a point.) Players who are suspended for three “major” infractions will enter the following season with two points and another suspension looming; however, if they don’t have another violation the following season, they’ll drop to zero. 🏈 A player who is fined for a second offense in any category must meet with the NFL, along with his position coach and coordinator. He does not get any money back, but if he doesn’t have another fine that season, his two fouls will drop to one towards repeat offender status; if he isn’t fined the following season, it drops to zero. 🏈 Players still have the right to appeal any fines. 🏈 All players will start the 2026 season with a clean slate. 🏈 The changes were agreed to on a one-year trial basis, giving each side a full season to evaluate the impact of these changes on player behavior and discipline. But the intent is for this to be a permanent shift towards a new model.

Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports.