Each sport has different ways of punishing players. The NFL awards field position to an offenders opponents, and the NHL forces penalized teams to play at a disadvantage. The NBA offers teams free throws or a fresh shot clock. The MLB doesn’t really have penalties, per se. Sure, balks, walks, or catcher’s interference could be considered penalties of sorts, but the main way the MLB keeps players in line is through suspensions.

No fan likes penalties, at least those called on their team, but they’re a necessary evil to keep players in check. Hockey, basketball, and football involve a lot of contact and players can frequently lose their temper. Penalties can deter athletes from getting too physical, and provide a quick break in the action so everyone can cool down.

Players in certain positions are more likely to be called for penalties because of the role they play. NBA centers who are forced to defend the rim from players running straight at them are much more likely be called for a foul than guards who generally play defense near the three point line. Many NHL teams roster enforcers, whose primary job is to antagonize the other team and start fights.

Some players, however, seem to cause trouble due to their character, rather than the position they play. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has a reputation for playing dirty. He’s been suspended for illegal hits and fined over one million dollars in his career.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of penalties called on each player, as well as suspensions, in the four major U.S. sports leagues. We ranked players based on the impact their penalties and suspensions had on their team.

Click here to see the most penalized players in sports.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

MLB

10. Miguel Sano
> Position, team: Third base, Minnesota Twins
> Suspension length: One game
> Reason: Fighting
> Ejections: Two

Miguel Sano had some trouble containing his emotions during the 2017 season. He was suspended one game for a scuffle with Detroit Tiger catcher James McCann and was among a handful of major leaguers who were ejected multiple times during the season.

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9. Mike Fiers
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, Houston Astros
> Suspension length: Five games
> Reason: Throwing at an opponent
> Ejections: Zero

Baseball’s unwritten rules still influence a lot of on-field behavior, and when those rules are broken, players become heated. Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers took exception when Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Valbuena flipped his bat after hitting a home run. When Valbuena next came to bat, Fiers intentionally threw a pitch over his head, earning Fiers a five-game suspension. But Valbuena got the last laugh, hitting a double at that time at bat.

8. Matt Barnes
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, Boston Red Sox
> Suspension length: Four games
> Reason: Throwing at an opponent
> Ejections: One

When a member of a baseball team feels slighted by a player from a rival organization, a pitcher may step up to retaliate. That may have happened when Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes threw a pitch near the head of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado. Earlier in the series Machado had injured Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Barnes denied he had intentionally thrown at Machado, but Barnes was still ejected from the game and suspended.

7. Bryce Harper
> Position, team: Right field, Washington Nationals
> Suspension length: Three games
> Reason: Fighting
> Ejections: Two

Bryce Harper is one of the best, and most controversial, players in the MLB. The Nationals outfielder has feuded with San Francisco Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland. And the bad blood boiled over in May when Strickland plunked Harper with a fastball; he then responded by charging the mound.

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6. Yulieski Gurriel
> Position, team: First base, Houston Astros
> Suspension length: Five games
> Reason: Racial gesture
> Ejections: One

First baseman Yulieski Gurriel represented a key component of the Houston Astros’ World Series victory. But the legacy of that championship became somewhat marred when cameras caught him making a racially insensitive gesture toward Dodger pitcher Yu Darvish. Gurriel will serve his suspension during the 2018 season.

5. Miguel Cabrera
> Position, team: First base, Detroit Tigers
> Suspension length: Six games
> Reason: Fighting
> Ejections: One

Miguel Cabrera is one of the most respected players in baseball, but even he is not immune from indulging in a scuffle. The former MVP apparently became annoyed when a New York Yankees relief pitcher threw behind Cabrera; he then sparked a benches-clearing brawl by fighting with catcher Austin Romine. MLB officials determined Cabrera incited the incident and gave him the heftiest suspension.

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4. Hunter Strickland
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, San Francisco Giants
> Suspension length: Six games
> Reason: Fighting
> Ejections: One

Baseball beefs can simmer for years, and the dislike between Bryce Harper and Hunter Strickland can be traced to 2014. Harper hit two home runs off Strickland in the playoffs that year, so when Strickland hit Harper during the 2017 season, Harper apparently assumed it was retaliation. Strickland denied it, but still received a six-game ban.

3. Jeurys Familia
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, New York Mets
> Suspension length: 15 games
> Reason: Domestic violence policy
> Ejections: Zero

In late 2016, New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia was arrested after his wife called the police and claimed he was growing violent. Though charges against him were eventually dropped, Familia was still suspended under the terms of the MLB’s domestic violence policy. Familia denied hitting his wife but admitted he acted inappropriately, even damaging a door.

2. Starling Marte
> Position, team: Center field, Pittsburgh Pirates
> Suspension length: 80 games
> Reason: Performance-enhancing drugs
> Ejections: Zero

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove in 2016. But he was suspended for nearly half of the 2017 season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

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1. David Paulino
> Position, team: Relief pitcher, Houston Astros
> Suspension length: 80 games
> Reason: Performance-enhancing drugs
> Ejections: Zero

Though it was somewhat obscured by their World Series championship, the Houston Astros had lots of player discipline issues during the 2017 season. Young right-handed pitcher David Paulino made six starts for the Astros before being suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance. He didn’t appear in any more major league games after that.

NHL

10. Dustin Byfuglien
> Position, team: Defenseman, Winnipeg Jets
> Penalty minutes: 90
> Games suspended: None

The 6-foot 5-inch, 260-pound defenseman is in the middle of his 13th year in the NHL. Not only does he lead the Jets in ice time this year; he has nearly tripled the season total of penalty minutes of the Jet with next highest total. Byfuglien exceeded 100 penalty minutes for the first time during the 2014-2015 season, and he is well on track to repeat the feat for the fourth straight year.

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9. Brad Marchand
> Position, team: Left winger, Boston Bruins
> Penalty minutes: 41
> Games suspended: Five

Few who know of Brad Marchand’s history as a pest will be surprised at his inclusion on this list. He doesn’t lead the Bruins this year in penalty minutes, but he was awarded the sixth suspension in his nine-year career in January when he elbowed New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson. Marchand received a five-game suspension for the incident.

8. Cody McLeod
> Position, team: Left winger, New York Rangers
> Penalty minutes: 94
> Games suspended: None

New York Rangers enforcer Cody McLeod has the dubious distinction of being fourth in the league in penalty minutes, with 94 minutes. For most of his 13-year career, he has been one of the league’s leaders in penalties. This season he has been assessed 13 major penalties and seven minors.

7. Antoine Roussel
> Position, team: Left winger, Dallas Stars
> Penalty minutes: 99

Ranked third in the league with the highest total of penalty minutes, Dallas winger Antoine Roussel has been assessed 31 penalties overall. But unlike some of the league’s highly penalized enforcers who draw major penalties more frequently, just eight of Roussel’s 31 penalties have been majors. In October, Roussel was assessed three minor penalties in the first period of a game with the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

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6. Zac Rinaldo
> Position, team: Center, Arizona Coyotes
> Penalty minutes: 44
> Games suspended: Six

During a December game against the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona’s Zac Rinaldo punched an unaware Samuel Girard, earning him a six-game suspension from the league. This incident marks his fifth suspension in his six-year NHL career, netting him 25 missed games.

5. Austin Watson
> Position, team: Left winger, Nashville Predators
> Penalty minutes: 91
> Games suspended: Two

Predators left winger Austin Watson largely stayed out of fights and the penalty box during the 2015-2016 season, the first time he played for most of an NHL season. The following season he transitioned into an enforcer role and fought 13 times. This season he has continued to perform that role and is on track to easily pick up 100 penalty minutes for the season.

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4. Luke Witkowski
> Position, team: Defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
> Penalty minutes: 52
> Games suspended: 10

Luke Witkowski received an automatic 10-game suspension for returning to the ice after being ejected. Witkowski’s temporary loss of judgment came after Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk had speared Witkowski on the way to the locker room. In addition to this suspension, Witkowski has also acquired more than 50 penalty minutes for the year through just 22 games. That adds up to an extremely high rate of 2:40 in penalty minutes per game.

3. Micheal Haley
> Position, team: Center, Florida Panthers
> Penalty minutes: 164
> Games suspended: None

Michael Haley leads the league in penalty minutes with a staggering 164 through 59 games. This means he’s averaging 2.8 penalty minutes per game. He is on pace for accruing 220 penalty minutes and more than 50 penalties for the season. Last season, the league’s penalty leader — Ottawa’s Mark Borowiecki — recorded 154 penalty minutes.

2. Radko Gudas
> Position, team: Defenseman, Philadelphia Flyers
> Penalty minutes: 66
> Games suspended:  10

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas was suspended for 10 games in November for slashing Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault in the neck. At the time this was the heaviest penalty that had been meted out against any player in the NHL. In explaining the decision to suspend Gudas, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety said the 27-year-old defenseman had been “reckless” and used “excessive force.” The physical Gudas is also tied for ninth in accruing penalty minutes per game this season, with 1.3 minutes.

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1. Tom Wilson
> Position, team: Right winger, Washington Capitals
> Penalty minutes: 147
> Games suspended: Four

Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson has committed more penalties (43) than any other NHL player. And he is racking up, on average, 2.6 penalty minutes per game, by far the highest amount of any player in the league. WIlson has spent 154 minutes in the penalty box, more time than any player other than Florida’s Michael Haley. This year he is threatening to eclipse his career high of 172 penalty minutes that he reached in 2014-2015.

NFL

10. P.J. Williams
> Position, team: Cornerback, New Orleans Saints
> Penalties: Six, for 107 yards
> Games suspended: None

P.J. Williams wasn’t called for many penalties last season, but the ones enforced against him were massive. Williams was flagged for a pass interference penalty that cost the New Orleans Saints 48 yards against the Los Angeles Rams. He was cited for another one — this time for 28 yards — the week after.

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9. Rob Gronkowski
> Position, team: Tight end, New England Patriots
> Penalties: Eight, for 60 yards
> Games suspended: One

At 6 feet 6 inches and 265 pounds, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is larger than just about any player who might try to guard him. He used his large frame a bit too much at times during the 2017 season and was called for three offensive pass-interference penalties. His most egregious foul came against the Buffalo Bills, when he dove at the head of Tre’Davious White, giving him a concussion. The late hit was offset by a Buffalo penalty, but it earned Gronk a one-game suspension.

8. Yannick Ngakoue
> Position, team: Defensive end, Jacksonville Jaguars
> Penalties: Eight, for 110 yards
> Games suspended: None

Yannick Ngakoue figured mightily in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ surprise success in 2017. But the pass rusher struggled to play under control. He was called for seven personal fouls, for transgressions that included roughing the passer, unnecessary roughness, and unsportsmanlike conduct.

7. Dontae Johnson
> Position, team: Cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
> Penalties: Nine, for 112 yards
> Games suspended: None

Dontae Johnson earned the job as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting cornerback after playing four years with the team. But he has struggled and he has been whistled for pass interference four times. He has also been cited for numerous holding offenses and illegal use of hands fouls, which give the other team an automatic first down.

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6. Germain Ifedi
> Position, team: Tackle, Seattle Seahawks
> Penalties: 16, for 120 yards
> Games suspended: None

In 2017, Germain Ifedi made the move from guard to tackle for the often-maligned Seattle Seahawks offensive line. There, he had 15 penalties accepted against him, more than any other player in the NFL. Ifedi moved his team back with nine false starts, five holds, and one unnecessary roughness call.

5. Dre Kirkpatrick
> Position, team: Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals
> Penalties: Seven, for 155 yards
> Games suspended: None

With NFL wide receivers seemingly becoming bigger, faster, and stronger each year, being a cornerback is a tough job. Last season, Dre Kirkpatrick struggled to guard receivers down the field He was called for four pass interference fouls that cost the Cincinnati Bengals 30 or more yards.

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4. Eli Apple
> Position, team: Cornerback, New York Giants
> Penalties: Seven, for 107 yards
> Games suspended: One

While Eli Apple has struggled on the field, he has made headlines mostly for his off-field antics. Apple was suspended for what the New York Giants called “conduct detrimental to the team.” Teammate Landon Collins was even more blunt, calling Apple a “cancer” in the locker room.

3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
> Position, team: Tight end, New York Jets
> Penalties: Seven, for 65 yards
> Games suspended: Two

After being arrested for a DUI, Austin Seferian-Jenkins was suspended for two games at the start of the 2017 season. Once he returned, Seferian-Jenkins helped the New York Jets’ passing game and posted his most productive season ever. But he did struggle with penalties and was called for holding five times.

2. Ken Crawley
> Position, team: Cornerback, New Orleans Saints
> Penalties: Nine, for 169 yards
> Games suspended: None

Most NFL penalties cost a team a set amount of yards, but pass interference is a spot foul, meaning the ball is placed at the site of the infraction. The NFL may change that rule, which would help defensive backs like New Orleans Saint Ken Crawley. Four of the fouls called against Crawley resulted in a penalty of 20 or more yards.

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1. Marcus Peters
> Position, team: Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs
> Penalties: Nine, for 122 yards
> Games suspended: One

Making the Pro Bowl in two of his first three seasons, Marcus Peters is one of the best young corners in the NFL. But he has trouble controlling his emotions, which has resulted in his incurring some hard to justify fouls. Peters was called for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness five times in 2017. In one incident he threw an official’s flag into the stands, earning himself a one-game suspension.

NBA

10. Devin Booker
> Position, team: Shooting guard, Phoenix Suns
> Personal fouls: 145
> Other fouls: 9 technical, 4 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Usually, it’s the centers and power forwards who do most of the fouling because taller players are supposed to defend the rim. But Suns shooting guard Devin Booker makes this list because of his NBA-leading four flagrant fouls. He’s also near the top of the league’s ranking for technical fouls, with nine.

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9. Josh Jackson
> Position, team: Small forward, Phoenix Suns
> Personal fouls: 169
> Other fouls: 8 technical, 1 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Phoenix Suns rookie forward Josh Jackson has been cited for a technical foul eight times this season, the 11th most in the NBA. The University of Kansas alumnus has committed 169 personal fouls this year, tying him for 13th in the league. Jackson averages 5.7 personal fouls every 48 minutes, which is the eighth in the NBA.

8. Khris Middleton
> Position, team: Small forward, Milwaukee Bucks
> Personal fouls: 190
> Other fouls: 4 technical, 0 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Khris Middleton, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, has averaged a career-high 20 points per game this season. But he ranks third in the league in personal fouls committed and is also tied for third in personal fouls per game, with 3.2. A big reason why Middleton is among the league leaders in fouls is he is averaging 36.7 minutes per game, which is fifth-most in the NBA.

7. Dillon Brooks
> Position, team: Small forward, Memphis Grizzlies
> Personal fouls: 187
> Other fouls: 3 technical, 1 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks has fouled out three times this season, tied for fifth-most in the NBA. Brooks, a rookie from the University of Oregon, is also fifth in the league in personal fouls committed and is tied for sixth in personal fouls per game at 3.2.

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6. Andre Drummond
> Position, team: Center, Detroit Pistons
> Personal fouls: 184
> Other fouls: 7 technical, 0 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Five-year NBA veteran Andre Drummond, a center with the Detroit Pistons, is sixth in the league in personal fouls and personal fouls per game. He is also tied for seventh in technical fouls. Despite his infractions, Drummond is enjoying one of his best seasons, averaging 15.1 points per game and a career-best 15.7 rebounds per contest.

5. Markieff Morris
> Position, team: Power forward, Washington Wizards
> Personal fouls: 161
> Other fouls: 9 technical, 2 flagrant
> Games suspended: One

Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris is tied for the sixth-most technical fouls committed in the NBA with nine. The six-year veteran from the University of Kansas has also been whistled for two flagrant fouls.

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4. Julius Randle
> Position, team: Power forward, Los Angeles Lakers
> Personal fouls: 195
> Other fouls: 4 technical, 0 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle has committed the league’s second-most personal fouls in the league. He is averaging 3.3 personal fouls per game, tied for third-most in the NBA. Randle, a fourth-year player from the University of Kentucky, is third in the league in foul-outs, with five. On the plus side, Randle is averaging 14.8 points per game, a career high.

3. DeMarcus Cousins
> Position, team: Center, New Orleans Pelicans
> Personal fouls: 183
> Other fouls: 9 technical, 1 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins leads the league with 3.8 fouls per game, and has been ejected twice. Cousins, a four-time All-Star, has led the league in personal fouls three times. That likely won’t happen this year, though, as Cousins ruptured his Achilles tendon and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns
> Position, team: Center, Minnesota Timberwolves
> Personal fouls: 215
> Other fouls: 3 technical, 0 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA, but he has a tendency to get into foul trouble. Towns has committed more fouls than any other player, but he’s only fouled out twice.

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1. Dwight Howard
> Position, team: Center, Charlotte Hornets
> Personal fouls: 189
> Other fouls: 12 technical, 2 flagrant
> Games suspended: None

Charlotte Hornets center Dwight Howard, who has a well-chronicled reputation for complaining to referees, has been whistled for 12 technical fouls, the second most in the league. He is tied for fifth in foul outs, with three. Howard has committed the NBA’s fourth-most personal fouls, and is tied for sixth in fouls per game, with 3.2. The eight-time All-Star is having a good year, averaging in the double digits in points (15.8) and rebounds (12.6).

Detailed findings & methodology

While any player could, in theory, be whistled on any given play, certain positions are at a disadvantage. Cornerbacks in the NFL are tasked with covering wide receivers, but a player will be flagged if he “significantly hinders” his opponent. When players like Julio Jones are 6’4, or can run a 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and can jump more than three feet in the air, stopping a catch can be incredibly difficult without getting too physical.

Marcus Peters is a two-time Pro-bowl corner who played for the Kansas City Chiefs during his first three seasons. He’s regarded as one of the best cover corners in the NFL, but even he struggled to break up passes without being flagged. Peters cost the Chiefs over 100 yards in penalties in 2017, most of them were on either pass interference or defensive holding calls.

Six of the 10 most penalized athletes in the NFL are cornerbacks, largely because corners are often called for pass interference. Unlike most other NFL penalties, pass interference is a spot foul, meaning the ball is placed where the infraction happened. So one penalty can move the opposing team forward dozens of yards. Fortunately for defensive backs, that rule could change soon.

NBA centers also end up on the hook for a lot of fouls. Centers are generally the tallest guys on the court, so they’re typically tasked with guarding the basket on defense. Trying to stop an offensive player, running at full speed, from making a shot in the paint without fouling can be tricky. Centers and power forwards who play in the paint have to stay disciplined because they’re disqualified from the game after picking up their sixth foul.

Dwight Howard, center for the Charlotte Hornets, made the list as he has committed the fourth-most fouls in the NBA this season. Fouls are common for centers in the NBA, but Howard also struggled to control himself this season, committing a dozen technical fouls and two flagrant fouls.

Fouls are commonplace in the NFL, NBA, and, to a lesser extent, the NHL. Hockey teams will typically have 3 to 5 penalties called on them per game. While NFL penalties usually cost a team a few yards and a foul may cost an NBA team a couple of points, one penalty in the NHL can be a huge deciding factor in each game. NHL teams score during roughly 1 of every 5 power plays. In hockey, scoring comes at a premium, so each foul can radically swing a close game.

Baseball doesn’t really have in-game penalties, so the only action an umpire can take is ejecting a player for arguing or fighting. If the misconduct is serious enough, the MLB will step in and suspend a player if officials determine the player crossed a line. Baseball brawls happen infrequently, but a handful of teams will see tempers boil over during the course of a 162-game season. These scuffles are treated as as unfortunate by-products of the game and players are typically suspended for just a few games. The MLB saves its harshest discipline for players who test positive for a banned substance. Players caught doping miss 80 games for a first offense and an entire season after a second positive test. A third doping violation results in a lifetime ban from baseball.

For instance, Miguel Cabrera was in a fight in 2017 and was suspended for six games. Starling Marte tested positive for a banned substance and missed 80 games of the season.

In order to determine the most penalized players in each sport, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the penalties and suspensions for all players in the four major U.S. sports leagues. Each NFL player was ranked based on the amount of penalty yardage assessed against his team and the number of games he missed due to suspensions. MLB players were ranked by the number of ejections and games missed due to suspension. NBA players were ranked on personal fouls, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, disqualifications, ejections, and games missed due to suspension. NHL players were ranked on total number of penalty minutes in a season and the number of games missed due to suspension.

NBA and NHL statistics included all games in the 2017-2018 season before Feb. 27, 2018. The NFL stats included the entire 2017 regular season and postseason. Only NFL players who were on active rosters, played in more than half of their team’s games and had more than five penalties accepted against them during the season were considered. MLB suspensions included the 2017 regular season and postseason.

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