No suspension is on tap in connection with Jalen Carter‘s spitting incident. The standout Eagles defensive tackle will be eligible to face the Chiefs in Week 2.
A $57K fine will be levied, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting Week 1 — when Carter was ejected without playing a down — will serve as the third-year DT’s de facto suspension. This fine covers a game check on Carter’s rookie contract.
The Eagles and Carter worked out an arrangement in which future guarantees will not void as part of this NFL-imposed fine, Schefter adds. The team, as should be expected with a player of this caliber, will not seek any signing bonus forfeiture, either. Carter is now in the clear, though this incident will certainly ding a reputation that already sustained hits prior to his Philadelphia arrival.
Because the NFL is treating this like Carter was suspended for a game, the Eagles could have voided his guarantees. With the team undoubtedly eyeing an extension for the 2023 first-round pick — who becomes eligible for a new deal in January — it does not surprise it would work out an arrangement to protect his guarantees and signing bonus money. Having Carter for Week 2 will also provide a significant boost, as the Cowboys pushed the defending Super Bowl champions without the Georgia product available.
Viewed as perhaps the 2023 draft class’ top talent, Carter fell to No. 9 after a handful of teams passed on him. Carter was hit with misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. These charges came in connection with the accident that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy on Jan. 15, 2023 (LeCroy and Willock were in a separate vehicle). Carter reached a plea deal in this case, avoiding jail time, but some teams removed him from their draft boards as a result of the accident. That turned out to benefit the Eagles, who traded up one spot (via the Bears) to nab the high-end DT talent.
A suspension was believed to be in play, as Carter spit on Dak Prescott just after the opening kickoff. The Cowboys quarterback had spit in Carter’s direction prior to the ejection; the 24-year-old D-tackle spit on the star quarterback soon after. Dallas enjoyed success offensively against the Eagles, putting up 20 first-half points. Vic Fangio‘s defense adjusted, as the teams combined for just three points after the second-half lightning delay. But Carter serves as the Eagles’ front-seven anchor; having him available will give them a much better chance of containing the Chiefs in the teams’ Super Bowl LIX rematch.
This ban will presumably influence future punishments for spitting, though players would probably run the risk of an actual suspension if such an act occurs well into a game. Carter being let off without a true ban is due to him not playing a down Thursday night.
Seems correct to me. Like I said before, he was functionally suspended for a whole game and had his very stupid action replayed a whole bunch of times during one of the most watched games of the year. I think that and a fine is a reasonable punishment without going overboard.
I most certainly agree with a thumb up
Eh, I don’t like the precedent of a “functional suspension”. It sets a slippery slope of when it counts as a full game. If he’d done it a minute into the game, does it still count as a game? How about after one quarter? Does he then get suspended for the first quarter of the next game, since he already served three quarters of a “functional suspension”?
Bizarre. He got ejected for the spitting. Doesn’t matter how much time is left in the game. Then, the penalty is a one game suspension. You can’t open the door to partial suspensions and functional suspensions. He should be suspended for Week 2.
I get where you’re coming from, but he didn’t play a single snap. This also saves the NFL from having to go through an appeals process that delves into Dak spitting first (which I don’t think was the same and don’t think is a good excuse for Carter, but it’s certainly a messier conversation). This whole thing is embarrassing for Carter, the Eagles, and the NFL. It’s not that big a deal and I think everyone would rather move on.
I agree, Oof. Rct raises really compelling points, but with the other circumstances considered (I don’t think that enough evidence exists to say that Dak was trying to instigate, but I understand why Carter was upset), I get why no further suspension happened. I wouldn’t have been upset at all with a one or two game suspension, that said. He better be on his best behavior going forward, though. No more benefit of the doubt for Carter.
For sure. Between how he entered the league, what happened on Thursday, and how close he is to making extraordinary money, he should be making a concerted effort to keep his profile clean.
I get what both of you are saying, but to me the punishment is this: ejection from the game and a one game suspension. You do it six seconds into a game? Tough break. In-game punishments and punishments levied by the league should be two separate things. There are in-game officials and there’s the league office.
I totally get where you guys are coming from but giving him “credit” for serving a suspension essentially means that the in-game officials suspended him for a game. That just seems wrong to me.
That’s bullshit!! 57k isn’t going to change anything. Set a precedent and suspend him for 2 games. What a waste of an opportunity to let them know this crap won’t be tolerated.
I think getting kicked out of the first game of the year after six seconds in primetime did a pretty decent job of sending that message.
suspended 1 game and fined. its the correct punishment
Bdd1967, I agree 100%
Let’s stop this outbreak of personal spat sparring before it gets out of hand you say? There is no evidence Carter is a serial spatter 67, so why the hate .
Thank goodness! Fly Eagles Fly, Go ‘Dawgs!!!
Lol. This dude just gets off on everything. The spitting incident is dumb, but it was the PERFECT time to teach this obviously arrogant kid a good life lesson. Instigates his drunk buddies to drag race him leaving another person dead. Definitely a guy I want in my corner he’s immune to responsibility!
Cold take on a minor incident in the NFL and a very tragic incident outside the lines, my insensitive friend. You should self mute.
Don’t like my posts mute me. Carter is a POS. Simple as that. You can defend his actions any way you choose, Philly fans typically do find a way to make absolutely garbage people their heroes.
Sorry I never defended just agree with the penalty. Disagree with your nonsensical attacks.
Nonsensical? He egged his buddies on while they were drunk to race him resulting in someone’s death. Then he got off completely free. No suspension. No fines. No criminal charges… just gets to make millions to spit on guys
Blame the drunk, Smow bunny, who was driving the car, for the kids murder. Not the person who wasn’t inside the car.
I blame the person who was driving as well as the person instigating them to do so.
Whoa. Someone needs to chill the eff out with this comment. There is NOWHERE that suggests Carter INSTIGATED the racing incident. That is an aggressive and massive bend of the truth. If you try to tell me that you or NO ONE you knew ever drove recklessly between ages of 18-22 you’re just a flat out liar. How awful would you feel if one of your best friends died when you were being a dumbass teenager? The guilt he probably lives with everyday and we just forget he’s a human cuz he plays in the NFL? You crossed a line with that honestly. You should be ashamed of yourself
This is a drop in the bucket fine for him but now he’s always going to be viewed as a dirty player. It will always follow him.
He’s nasty and dominant. A bit feisty at times. Looking forward to seeing him letting off some steam against the Chiefs.Fly eagles Fly
Sure, I’m positive you’d be saying the same thing if he was on another team and spit on Jalen Hurts!
He’s a dirty human *
Accomplice to murder but playing in the nfl still
This is ridiculous. The NFL only issues a fine, and the Eagles are doing everything they can to alleviate even this minimal sanction.
Gruß,
BSHH
Dude just paid a store manager salary off of spitting on another grown man on national television. What a world
Think the fine should’ve been a lot more, but I agree with the game serving as the suspension.
one game suspension, 1 game paycheck as per nfl.com
A higher fine could’ve been issued on top of the game check.
Coddling Tom “Double-Dipper” Brady … quietly demoting 3 game officials to the college ranks … not suspending a lineman DQ’d for spitting at an opponent.
Ain’t the NFL fun!
If he wasn’t a star player, based on his track record, he would most likely be either in jail or working at McDonald’s.
So in other words he doesn’t get suspended and, in terms of his income, he gets fined like $20. THAT IS RIDICULOUS.