NFL Declares Dak Prescott Innocent - Fines Jalen Carter After Reviewing Appeals From Both Sides in Spitting Incident.

Philadelphia, PA – September 10, 2025

What began as a heated opening night between the Eagles and Cowboys has now spilled into controversy that won’t fade anytime soon. On Tuesday evening, the NFL announced the results of its review after both Dak Prescott and Jalen Carter filed appeals over last week’s “Spitgate” incident.

The league’s ruling? Prescott walks away without punishment, while Carter remains saddled with the financial equivalent of a one-game suspension.

For many in Philadelphia, the decision feels lopsided. Carter, who was ejected after spitting at Prescott, has been fined his full weekly check of $57,222, a penalty the NFL insists matches the weight of a suspension. Yet Prescott, whose own gesture toward the Eagles sideline sparked the altercation, received no sanction at all.

An NFL spokesperson defended the move: “After further review, Dak Prescott’s actions did not meet the threshold for discipline. Jalen Carter’s did. The fine, combined with his ejection, ensures accountability.”

That explanation hasn’t gone down smoothly in Philly. To fans, it feels like a double standard — one star quarterback protected, another defensive lineman vilified.

Clips of the incident have gone viral all week, with slow-motion replays showing Prescott initiating the exchange before Carter’s retaliation. Still, the league’s final word leaves Carter branded as the sole offender.

Inside the Eagles’ locker room, the message has been to move forward, but frustration lingers. Losing Carter’s focus during a Super Bowl rematch week is an unwelcome distraction, and many players quietly believe the punishment has more to do with optics than fairness.

On the other side, Cowboys Nation celebrated the outcome as vindication for their quarterback. For Eagles fans, it feels like another case of Philadelphia being put under the microscope while Dallas skates free.

The NFL may want this saga buried, but in Philly, the bitterness will echo into Week 2 — and Carter’s reputation may carry the scar far longer than the fine itself.