There are typically two sides (at least) to every argument. But in the NFL, there doesn’t even have to be one.
Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and players grants Commissioner Roger Goodell discretion in determining what is “conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football” — and what punishment a player should receive for such conduct.
In a game packed with rules — many regarded as petty (don’t write your late grandmother’s name on your cleats) or vague (anyone know what a catch is?) or flat-out bizarre (taunting carries the same minimum fine as chop blocking) — this is one area that has no discernable guidelines.