Chargers’ Teair Tart fined for Travis Kelce Week 1 slap

However, league rules dictate that a fine for a first offense of striking is $12,172, so it is likely that Tart will be hit with that amount.

Following a play in the third quarter during last week’s game in Brazil, Tart smacked Kelce’s helmet in retaliation after the tight end shoved the lineman.

The slap resulted in a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against Los Angeles, but Tart was not ejected because he made open-hand contact, NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay said during the broadcast.

“According to [NFL officiating rules analyst] Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open-hand contact to the head, that was not disqualifying action,” McAulay said.

“On this one, they felt it was just an open hand blow to the head, not a closed fist, not a punch, and they did not disqualify in this case,” he added.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that he was confused as to why Tart was not ejected from the game.

“I don’t understand that rule,” Reid told reporters Monday. “I guess it’s open-hand, fist, whatever, I don’t know. I don’t know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist.”

Tart, 28, signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Chargers during the offseason, with the team giving him a $2 million bonus before offseason activities.

Following the Week 1 game, Tart took to Instagram, throwing a jab at Kelce and his fiancée, 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift, posting a picture with a caption that read, “I’m too swift with it even in Brazil.”

Tart’s post was then met with mountains of backlash from Swift’s immense fan base.