NFL Announces Punishment for Vikings Player in Loss to Eagles
It’s been a rough last few days for the Minnesota Vikings. Not only are they on a two-game losing streak, but one of their players will be light in their wallet due to an incident in their Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
On October 25, the NFL released the Week 7 Gameday Accountability fines for player infractions. The fine schedule is agreed upon by both the NFL and NFLPA and provided to all players before the season begins.
Players cited for a violation have the right to appeal. Appeals are reviewed by officers, including former NFL players Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA.
For the Vikings, the player who was given a fine was linebacker Ivan Pace for unnecessary roughness after using his helmet on a play in the fourth quarter at the 1:57 minute mark. As a result, the league is fining Pace $5,759 for that incident.
Can the Vikings Turn Their Situation Around?
The fine isn’t the end of the world for the Vikings. Still, it just piles on the challenging few days for Minnesota. After losing in Week 7 to the Eagles, they opened Week 8 with a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers
Nonetheless, Wentz isn’t worried about the sub-.500 record, expressing confidence that the team will rebound as they gear up for their Week 9 clash with NFC North rival, the Detroit Lions.
“I just know the guys in that locker room,” Wentz told reporters postgame on October 23. “I know the guys; I know the coaches; I’ve still only been here for a short period
“I have a lot of confidence in the guys. Hopefully, we can keep getting some guys back healthy, all that stuff. This was a short week. This was a tough one. We just didn’t have it tonight. The NFL is weird. It’s hard to win, hard to be consistent. So at the end of the day, just turn the page and go attack it next week.”
Vikings Face Major Hurdle Amid Losing Streak
Meanwhile, the Vikings have several areas of their game that need work as they head into Week 9. O’Connell didn’t sugarcoat the result, openly acknowledging that the Chargers were better across the board.
“We got outplayed,” O’Connell said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “We got outcoached; we did not — there are no excuses. Injuries, short week, whatever it is, that is not in any way, shape, or form our standard of what we want to put on the field, and we’ve got — as I told our team — we’ve got an opportunity in front of us where we need to own this.
“This is not a bury the tape kind of time for our organization. This is a ‘watch it, view it, own it’. Every coach, every player. And it starts with me. I did not have our team prepared to play.”
Chiefs Tight End’s Personal Announcement Is Turning Heads
The Kansas City Chiefs return to primetime when they face the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football this week.
While the Chiefs aim to secure their third consecutive win, the Commanders seek to avoid their third straight loss. Washington’s defense has the arduous task of trying to stop Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who’s firing on all cylinders with the team’s starting wide receivers all healthy and active: Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown.
Mahomes can also rely on No. 1 tight end, Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who’s recorded 31 receptions for 375 yards and two touchdowns this season. Behind Kelce on the depth chart is Noah Gray, who provides more support as a blocking tight end but makes the most of his targets.
Thus far this season, Gray’s registered nine receptions for 75 yards while averaging 8.3 yards per catch.
Gray, the Chiefs’ fifth-round pick from the 2021 NFL draft, has won two Super Bowl championships with the franchise. A few days before Kansas City hosts the Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, October 27, Gray announced some personal news that drew his teammates’ attention.
Chiefs TE Noah Gray, Wife Mary Elise Gray, Announced Their Expecting a Baby Girl
With an extra day of rest to prepare for the primetime matchup, Gray announced that he and his wife, Mary Elise, are expecting their second child together.
The couple wrote in a shared Instagram post on Saturday, October 25, “Noah’s girl army is getting a tiny bit bigger 🎀🩰.”
Mahomes, who shares three children, one boy and two girls, with his wife Brittany Mahomes, commented, “Congrats!❤️.” Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster wrote, “Congrats bro 😎.” Offensive lineman Creed Humphrey’s girlfriend Ana Demmer gushed, “and we are PUMPED!💗” Former Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s fiancée, Chariah Gordon, added, “Congratulations 🥹💗💖.”
Gray and his wife first started dating while they were students at Duke University. After tying the knot in Marietta, Georgia, in 2022, they welcomed their first daughter, Naomi, on March 17, 2024.
While the Grays keep a low profile, Mary Elise keeps her Instagram page private, the tight end posted a sweet Mother’s Day tribute last year.
He wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day to the one that keeps us rolling!! Mimi and I appreciate all you do for us! I love you!!”
Patrick Mahomes Commented on The Chiefs Playing Without Jayden Daniels in Week 8
With starting quarterback Jayden Daniels out with a hamstring injury, Washington announced backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will start in Week 8. While the Chiefs are considered heavy favorites to defeat the Commanders, Mahomes still wishes Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, could suit up on Monday night.
“Yeah, I mean, you want to go up against the best of the best, and Jayden, with the way that he played last year, man, he’s in that category,” Mahomes told reporters. “I hope he gets healthy sooner rather than later, but at the same time, I know Marcus can play, too.
“I’ve seen him play throughout my entire career and have a lot of successful games, including this year. We understand it’s still going to be a great challenge going up against a great football team and a guy that has had a lot of success in the NFL.”
