NFL FINES PATRIOTS RECEIVER MACK HOLLINS TWICE ON ONE PLAY

The National Football League has fined New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins $34,441 for two separate infractions committed on a single play during the Patriots' game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The league docked Hollins $11,941 for taunting and a further $22,500 for unnecessary roughness involving his helmet. The taunting penalty followed a nine-yard catch on third-and-10, with 13 minutes and 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter, after Hollins gestured towards Jaguars safety Eric Murray. Officials flagged him for taunting on the field but did not penalise him for the helmet-related conduct during the match itself. The league issued the unnecessary roughness fine separately, after reviewing the play.

Hollins led the Patriots in receiving in that game, catching six passes for 87 yards. This is not the first time the league has fined him twice for conduct on a single play. After a game against the Denver Broncos in January 2025, the NFL fined Hollins $11,255 for stepping over cornerback Patrick Surtain and a further $6,736 for standing over receiver Marvin Mims following a punt. Both of those earlier fines were also for taunting. The latest penalties add to a pattern of discipline for similar conduct stretching back over two seasons.

The fines reflect the NFL's continued enforcement of its taunting and unnecessary roughness rules, which allow the league to penalise players for conduct even when officials do not flag it during a match. Hollins has now been fined on multiple occasions since January 2025 for actions the league deemed taunting. Neither report indicated whether Hollins intends to appeal the latest fines or whether the Patriots commented on the matter. Hollins remains the Patriots' leading receiver from the Jaguars game, with his on-field performance unaffected by the league's post-match ruling.