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Anthony Zettel not fined for penalty on field goal leaping

Arizona Cardinals v Detroit Lions

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 10: Anthony Zettel #69 of the Detroit Lions celebrate a fourth quarter sack with Armonty Bryant #97 at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 35-23. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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The NFL passed a new rule this year to ban players jumping over the line to block a field goal, saying it’s necessary for player safety. But the first player this season to get penalized for leaping wasn’t fined for it.

Lions defensive end Anthony Zettel was penalized for trying to leap over the line to block a Cardinals field goal, but the NFL confirmed today that he wasn’t fined.

Zettel’s leap wasn’t much of a leap, and it’s unclear whether the league would fine a player for a more flagrant jump, particularly if he landed on an opponent.

Although the Lions got a 15-yard penalty for the leap, giving the Cardinals an automatic first down, it wasn’t a particularly costly penalty, as Detroit’s defense stopped Arizona and eventually held the Cardinals to a field goal on the drive anyway.