Bills Newcomer Fined $10K for Sneaker Ad Shoot on Off-Day Before Bears Game

Buffalo, NY – August 16, 2025 
The Buffalo Bills have issued a $10,000 fine to a recent free-agent addition after an off-day misstep drew the ire of team officials, just days before their upcoming preseason clash with the Chicago Bears.

According to team sources, the penalty stemmed from a commercial photoshoot for a new sneaker line that conflicted with the club’s recovery protocols. While the activity wasn’t against league rules, the Bills deemed it a breach of their internal standards.

The incident immediately sparked conversations in the locker room about discipline and accountability during the most crucial days of preparation. In Buffalo, where focus is treated as currency, such lapses rarely go unnoticed.

"When you wear the red, white, and blue of the Bills, every decision you make must serve one purpose — victory. An off-day isn’t for chasing the spotlight, it’s for being ready to give everything on game day," Head Coach Sean McDermott emphasized.

The player involved, Darrick Forrest, signed with Buffalo on March 13, 2025, after four seasons with the Washington Commanders. The one-year deal is worth $2.2 million and adds veteran depth to the secondary.

At 25, Forrest has shown he can be a playmaker, highlighted by his 2022 campaign where he recorded 88 tackles and four interceptions. The Bills targeted him as a versatile safety capable of rotating across multiple coverages.

Still, the team viewed his recent off-day choice as undermining the culture they aim to protect, particularly in a roster room that values unity and sacrifice ahead of personal commitments. The fine was intended as a reminder of priorities.

With Chicago up next on the preseason slate, Forrest will have an opportunity to shift the conversation back to football — proving that his value lies in making plays on the field, not in headlines away from it.