Patriots' Milton Williams sets $1,000 fine for defenders who jump offsides before Lions

Milton Williams has started charging his teammates for jumping early. The New England Patriots defensive tackle told reporters Friday that he set up a $1,000 fine this week for any defender flagged for offsides or encroachment, Bleacher Report reported. Brian Hines of SB Nation's Pats Pulpit reported that the money will go to members of the training staff or the building's custodians.

The timing makes sense. New England's defense has been flagged for seven pre-snap infractions over its last two games. Pats Pulpit's numbers show the Patriots lead the NFL with four encroachment penalties, rank fourth with five neutral zone infractions and are tied for eighth with three defensive offsides calls. Williams includes himself in that count. He was flagged twice in the first three weeks and again in Week 7, and he said those penalties are part of why he wanted something with real consequences. "So [if] it hurt your pockets, maybe you'll think about it a little more," Williams said, according to Pats Pulpit.

His case goes past discipline. Williams explained that every early jump turns a long down-and-distance into a short one, which takes away the obvious passing downs a rush built around him depends on. Safety Craig Woodson said he hadn't heard about the fines yet but praised Williams for taking it on. The move fits the leadership role Williams has grown into since signing a four-year, $104 million contract last offseason. Bleacher Report credited him with 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack through nine games, plus 20 pressures by Pro Football Focus' count.

What it means against Detroit

The fines come right after the defense's worst game of the year. Green Bay put up 45 points in a 45-27 loss, the most New England has allowed this season, and Chicago scored 30 two games earlier. The Patriots are 5-4 and have lost two of their last three after a three-game winning streak over Buffalo, Las Vegas and the Jets. That stretch, along with a 20-3 win over Pittsburgh, showed this group can control games when it keeps offenses in long-yardage situations. A Lions offense that gets regular third-and-short chances is the scenario Williams is trying to prevent.

The market expects a close game with plenty of scoring. Across 12 venues on our odds board, Detroit is favored. Novig has the Lions at -135 on the moneyline, with the Patriots at +133. On the spread, Novig lists Detroit at -2.5 (-111) and New England at +2.5 (+108). The best Patriots number anywhere is +3 at Hard Rock Bet, priced at -115, so the venues differ by half a point on the line. The total sits at 49.5 on Novig at -102 either way. Pinnacle has the best over at 49 (-113) and BetRivers has the best under at 50.5 (-110), so totals range across a point and a half. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.8% to 5.4% on the spread.

That total is high for a defense that has allowed 75 points over its last two losses. If Williams' fines cut down the free yards, the Patriots' front will have more chances to get after the quarterback on Sunday on Fox. More on the season is on our Patriots team page.