The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived safety Shilo Sanders following his ejection from the team’s preseason finale, and the NFL has now added financial consequences to his troubles.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league fined Sanders $4,669 for throwing a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson during the preseason game.
Head coach Todd Bowles called Sanders’ actions “inexcusable” after the incident.
Sanders went unclaimed on waivers and remains unsigned as a free agent. The former Colorado safety’s NFL prospects took a hit just as his brother Shedeur Sanders experienced his own draft disappointment, falling from first-round projections to the fifth round.
Shilo Sanders entered the league as an undrafted free agent after signing with Tampa Bay.
His draft stock was always lower than his quarterback brother’s. Most evaluators projected him as a fifth-round pick at best before he went unselected entirely.
The Buccaneers showed enough interest in his talent to offer a contract. But that faith wasn’t enough to overlook his preseason conduct.
Teams may be hesitant to deal with the media attention that comes with the Sanders name, especially for a player projected as depth at safety.
Sanders watched his former Colorado team lose their season opener to Georgia Tech while dealing with his own setbacks. A late Hayne King 45-yard touchdown run sealed the Buffaloes’ defeat.
The 22-year-old safety now faces a harsh reality about his NFL future.
Other teams might still offer him an opportunity. But for now, Sanders must pay his four-digit fine and wait for another chance.
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