NFL fines undrafted Lions player more than three times his preseason pay

Ron Clements

NFL fines undrafted Lions player more than three times his preseason pay image

Kerry Hyder is fighting to make an NFL roster and he might not get paid while working toward a spot.

The Detroit Lions defensive end, undrafted in 2014 out of Texas Tech, was fined $18,231 for roughing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron in the third quarter of Detroit's 30-14 loss on Aug. 18, according to ESPN.com.

It's the same fine handed to Houston Texans linebacker John Simon and Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

But here's the problem for Hyder: Unlike Simon, entering his fourth NFL season, and Reed, a second-round pick from Alabama, Hyder can't exactly afford the fine.

Hyder spent his first two NFL seasons on the practice squads of the New York Jets and Lions and does not have an accredited season in the NFL based on terms in the collective-bargaining agreement. Because of that, he only receives $1,000 a week during training camp — the sum of which amounts to only about a third of his fine.

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The good news for Hyder is there is a clause in the CBA that states "a fine may be reduced on this basis only if it exceeds 25 percent of one week of a player's salary for a first offense, and 50 percent of one week of a player's salary for a second offense."

Hyder also has the option of appealing the fine by arguing his hit on McCarron does not warrant "a fine above the amount stated in the schedule of fines."

Ron Clements