Everyone likes a free souvenir from an NFL game, but three special fans got footballs that cost $21,000 total.
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Michael Crabtree were fined $10,500 each by the NFL for throwing footballs into the Candlestick Park crowd after scoring touchdowns in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, which is a fan safety/crowd-control issue. Crabtree tossed two balls, one on a 49-yard pass and the second on 7-yard touchdown, but was fined the same as Gore.
Players are allowed to hand balls to fans on the edge of the action, but flinging them into the stands could cause a fight, so the league frowns on that.
Here's a roundup of fines from the final week of the NFL's regular season:
» Washington Redskins punter Sav Rocca was fined $7,875 for tackling Dallas Cowboys punt returner Dwayne Harris by the facemask during a return in the Redskins' 28-18 win over the Cowboys.
» Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams was fined $7,875 for unnecessarily hitting Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson in the helmet during the Vikings' 37-34 win. Luckily, these two get a chance to clear the air Saturday.
» Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor was fined $7,875 for unnecessary roughness for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum away from the play during the Steelers' 24-10 win.
» San Diego Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes and Oakland Raiders running back Mike Goodson were fined $7,875 each for fighting and being ejected during the Chargers' 24-21 win. On a side note, they weren't the only ones who got in a fight during that game.
