The NFL and CFL share a common practice when it comes to dealing with players who speak out of turn: hitting them in the wallet. Recently, the CFL fined four kickers for publicly complaining about the use of microchips in footballs. Sergio Castillo, Brett Lauther, Sean Whyte, and Lewis Ward were all fined for their remarks.
The backlash prompted the CFL to amend its rules to allow kickers to opt out of using balls with microchips in them. Many view the fines as a heavy-handed and unnecessary tactic that only serves to make league officials appear as bullies and cowards. It’s an example of how both the NFL and CFL enforce discipline among players who publicly criticize the league’s decisions.
Castillo expressed his frustration after missing two field goals and an extra point in Winnipeg’s season-opener against Montreal. He stated that he didn’t know where to aim and that the microchips in the footballs affected the trajectories of his kicks. The other three kickers supported Castillo on social media, leading to undisclosed fines for all four players.
