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Most NFL fines revolve around vicious hits or fights on the field during games, but two Pittsburgh Steelers stars just got hit with a $5,000 warning for something much more bizarre.

James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, two of the most important pieces on Pittsburgh‘s offense this season, were each fined $5,000 by the NFL for — wait for it — wearing their socks too low. Clearly, the only reason the Steelers were able to beat the Tennessee Titans last Sunday was because of the competitive advantage Conner and Smith-Schuster had by wearing their socks incorrectly. Thank you, NFL, for buckling down on this catastrophic cheating scandal.

The Steelers beat the Ravens on Sunday to move to 7-0

In the Steelers’ toughest test to date, they faced off against the division-rival Ravens on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. It was a hard-fought battle for 60 minutes, but Pittsburgh emerged victorious in the end, 28-24, to improve to 7-0 this season.

James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster paced the black and yellow on the ground and through the air. Conner rushed 15 times for 47 yards and a touchdown, while Smith-Schuster added seven catches for 67 yards in the win.

Two days later, the two offensive stars received some unexpected news from the NFL.

James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster just got the most ridiculous fine

On Tuesday morning, Smith-Schuster took to Instagram to show off a letter he had just received from the NFL league office. The letter stated he and Conner were both being fined $5,000 for an incident during last Sunday’s game against the Titans.

It wasn’t an illegal hit, or a fight, or a negative comment in the postgame press conference that spurred the fine. It was how Smith-Schuster and Conner wore their socks.

“During the Pittsburgh Steelers-Tennessee Titans game on October 25, 2020, you were in violation of the NFL Uniform and Equipment Rules,” the league said in the letter. “Specifically, your stockings failed to cover your lower leg.”

With all the other issues involving late hits and scrums in the NFL in recent weeks, it’s hilarious the league is going after players for something like this. And more than a week after the game!

This isn’t the first time the NFL has punished a sock malfunction

As incredible as it may sound, Conner and Smith-Schuster aren’t the first NFL players to be hit with a fine for wearing their socks incorrectly, and they probably won’t be the last.

In 2013, San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore was fined $10,500 for wearing his socks too low during the NFC Championship game.

As for Conner and Smith-Schuster, both players are still on their rookie contracts. Both are making less than $1.1 million this season with the Steelers, so they can’t be happy about forking over $5,000 because of some socks. Just remember, boys — pull ’em up all the way next game.

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.