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The NFL's business is selling an exciting competition, and with 120 fps 1080i HD cameras on the field, every action can be scrutinized to the nth degree. The replay and review process has encouraged defenders to be even more aggressive about making the initial hit to break up a catch--there's little chance of the "catch-and-fumble" call. Slowing a play down to 1/5th the speed skews reality and is a horrible position to make a decision about intent, and that is where FINES should be based on--intent. The on-field penalty can be based purely on "what happened" (hence the recent rules changes that remove the determination of intent from deciding the outcome of most plays), but fines, actual financial actions against your own employees, should not be about an accident on the field of play, but rather what the player TRIED to do.
The NFL does a very good job of selling an exciting games, and the result is they have a very profitable business. Financial penalties for malicious and unsporting behavior is certainly justified. They should not financially penalize those who make an unavoidable mistake in a situation that the company put them into.
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