Colts dispute report that team had $4M in fines

The Indianapolis Colts are disputing that fines for some of its players were as high as reported by online research company Spotrac.

Spotrac reported that seven Colts players combined for $4.02 million in fines for infractions during the 2014-15 season, which the company said would be the highest amount of any team in the NFL by nearly $1 million.

"We have a number of discrepancies regarding the numbers, where things go, how they are allocated," said Avis Roper, senior director of communications for the Colts.

"Spotrac could not get that information that includes fine money. The NFL does not release that information," Roper said, citing HIPAA privacy rules in drug-related suspensions.

Roper cited fines against two players he said were inaccurate: Spotrac listed Robert Mathis with a $2.06 million fine and Trent Richardson with a $187,297 fine.

Roper said the Mathis number was at least $500,000 too high.

As for Richardson, the fine "is absolutely incorrect," Roper said. "If he played, he wouldn't have gotten paid $187,000."

On its site, Spotrac lists seven sources it uses to gather NFL stats, including OvertheCap, Rotoworld (NBC Sports) and USA Today. In an email, the company told The Star "We track fines/suspensions reported from the league via major news network articles or tweets, largely Ian Rapoport over the past several years."

Rapoport is a national media insider for NFL Network and NFL.com

Asked whether it's possible there could be inaccuracies in its numbers, the company did not respond.

Here are the fines and suspensions, and the reasons for them, that Spotrac lists for Colts players. The list does not include coaches or team owners.

— Robert Mathis, $2.06 million fine and suspended four games for violating NFL policy on substance abuse during preseason.

— LaRon Landry, $1.12 million fine and suspended four games for violating the NFL's performance enhancing drug policy.

— LaVon Brazill, $588,513 fine and suspended 16 games for substance abuse in the preseason.

— Trent Richardson, $187,297 fine and two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

— Erik Walden, $27,652 fine for physical contact with an official, Week 7 against Cincinnati.

— Jonathan Newsome, $22,050, blindside hit against Philadelphia's Chris Polk in Week 2.

— Arthur Jones, $16,537 for roughing the passer in Colts postseason game against Denver and Peyton Manning.

The NFL said it does not report onfield discipline every week. If it gets a specific request from the media and it's something it can release, it will. As for the Richardson fine, it wasn't handed out by the league, said NFL spokesman Jon Zimmer.

"In terms of the substance abuse and other policy instances, we don't get into player salaries," he said. "Those aren't numbers we ever disclose."

Asked whether he would call Spotrac's numbers accurate, Zimmer said: "That isn't something we would go on the record with."

He did note that the Erik Walden fine listed by Spotrac at $27,652 was actually $27,562.

Roper was more outspoken about Spotrac's figures and said it needs to be made clear that some fines are given back to the team so the Colts didn't lose money.

Also, the Colts released Brazill after his substance abuse violation, Roper said, before the season began.

Spotrac's list of Top 10 fined NFL teams for 2014-15 season

1. Indianapolis Colts: $4.02 million

2. Arizona Cardinals: $3.05 million

3. Baltimore Ravens: $2.74 million

4. Miami Dolphins: $2.54 million

5. San Francisco 49ers: $2.52 million

6. Denver Broncos: $1.89 million

7. Philadelphia Eagles: $1.24 million

8. Washington Redskins: $1.13 million

9. Kansas City Chiefs: $1.02 million

10. Cleveland Browns: $995,511

Source: Spotrac.

Follow Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.











