The National Football League fined players more than $300,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct during Week 2 games, marking a sharp increase from the previous week.
The league announced 22 unsportsmanlike conduct fines totaling $300,089 on Saturday. The violations included 13 for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts, five for obscene gestures and four for taunting. The total number of fined plays across all categories in Week 2 reached 38, compared to 20 in Week 1.
Individual fines varied, with 15 penalties set at $14,926 each and three at $11,941 each. A total of 13 players received unsportsmanlike conduct fines.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown each received four fines, totaling $59,704 apiece. St. Brown was penalized for a celebration that imitated smoking. Higgins and Bengals teammate Ja'Marr Chase were fined for celebrations patterned after The Rock's "people's elbow."
Chase, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk each received two fines. Eight other players were fined once each.
Juszczyk and several other players were fined for celebrations the NFL interpreted as beer-chugging imitations. Juszczyk told ESPN via text, "I don't even drink beer." The player, known as "Juice," has used this celebration in previous seasons.
The NFL Players Association objected to the fines on Saturday. An NFLPA spokesperson told Front Office Sports that players and the union received no prior notice that these acts would constitute a fine. The spokesperson added that some players have used these same celebrations for years without issue. The union is actively working to resolve the Week 2 fines and ensure players receive proper notice moving forward.
The enforcement push follows a report last month from Front Office Sports indicating the NFL's competition committee requested continued strict enforcement of sportsmanship-related rules this season, focusing on taunting, illegal celebrations and fighting.
