Was It Worth It, Daron? (Spoiler Alert: No)

Daron Payne, a defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders, will be paying a hefty price after punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during Sunday’s game. The NFL announced on Monday that Payne has been suspended without pay for one contest.

“During the second quarter, Payne was disqualified for striking Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’ including ‘throwing a punch, or a forearm,’ and Rule 12, Section 2, Article 14(d), which prohibits ‘striking, swinging at, or clubbing the head or neck of an opponent with the wrist(s), arm(s), elbow(s), or hand(s),’” stated the NFL, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk.

Payne won’t just be suspended; he’ll also be losing a significant amount of money considering his hefty salary. With a base salary of $19.56 million for the 2025 season, Payne earns approximately $1.087 million per game — the exact amount he will forfeit due to the suspension. That’s a tough financial hit.

Payne does have the option to appeal his suspension. If the appeal fails, he won’t be traveling to Madrid, Spain, with the Commanders for the team’s upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins. However, he will be eligible to play again starting November 17th, according to Pro Football Talk.

Imagine losing over $1 million for throwing a punch while wearing a helmet — only to end up hurting your own hand in the process. What an unfortunate and costly mistake.
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/10/washington-commanders-daron-payne-suspended-detroit-lions-amon-ra-st-brown/