New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo was well on his way to having a rookie season to remember.
The fourth-round pick out of Arizona State took over as the team's No. 1 running back in Week 2, and went on a six-week run that had Giants fans thinking the team had found its franchise RB.
Skattebo racked up 398 yards rushing, 189 yards receiving and six total touchdowns in that stretch, and he seemed poised to flirt with 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie before his season ended on one gruesome play in the team's 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.
The incident happened midway through the second quarter of that game when Skattebo attempted to catch a pass across the middle of the field.
Eagles linebacker Zack Baun wrapped Skattebo up from behind and appeared to fall backward with all of his weight on the 23-year-old RB's legs in what looked to be a hip-drop tackle - a maneuver that was banned by the NFL in March of 2024.
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Many were expecting Baun to be fined for the move given the severity of what happened - Skattebo suffered a fracture tibia, a right ankle dislocation, and a ruptured deltoid ligament as a result of the play - while others argued Baun did nothing wrong.
When the NFL released its list of weekly fines on Saturday, Baun's name wasn't on it.
Fans on social media had some pretty strong reactions to Baun not facing any discipline for the incident.
"Seems quarterbacks are the only ones safe from dangerous tackling," one fan wrote.
"Clearly because it was NOT a hip drop tackle by Zack Baun as confirmed by the league," another fan remarked.
"Wow. That hip drop was obvious," another argued.
"Did the NFL explain why they didn’t believe it was so we can laugh 🤷♂️," asked one user.
"*Giants fanbase sighs and groans with disgust*" another user commented.
First-time fines for hip-drop tackles start at $17,389 and go up to $23,186 for second offenses and even higher for third or more offenses.
Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu was fined $46,372 on Saturday for his hip-drop tackle on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray on Monday. It was Luvu's third hip-drop fine in his last 10 games.
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