Inside The Vikings

Vikings' Byron Murphy Jr. fined $11K for taunting against Seahawks

Murphy stood over Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba after a key incompletion.
Will Ragatz|
Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) celebrates his interception against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) celebrates his interception against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. was fined $11,255 for taunting in last Sunday's game against the Seahawks. After a big incompletion in the third quarter, Murphy stood over Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and looked down at him for a brief moment. He was not flagged in real time.

These are the six categories of misconduct that can draw fines from the NFL, as outlined in the CBA (via Sportico):

  1. Offense against a game official
  2. Player safety rules
  3. Fighting
  4. Sportsmanship
  5. Uniform
  6. Gang signing

Murphy's offense would fall under the sportsmanship category, although a fine for a very slight taunt that didn't get penalized at the time feels a little unnecessary.

Murphy has an $8.3 million base salary this year and $27 million in career earnings, so he'll be OK, but no one enjoys losing money. The fine money doesn't go to the league, it goes to the NFLPA Players Assistance Trust — which helps former players — and various charitable organizations.

In his sixth NFL season, Murphy has enjoyed a career year. The Vikings' top cornerback has a team-high six interceptions, 13 total passes defended, a forced fumble, and five tackles for loss. Murphy, who turns 27 in a few weeks, is setting himself for a big-time payday in free agency this spring.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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