Chase to Appeal NFL Celebration Fine, Push NFLPA to Act — SkimNews
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- Ja'Marr Chase plans to appeal an NFL fine for a celebration performed with Tee Higgins during Cincinnati's 20-6 win over Houston — a game in which Chase made what may be an early catch-of-the-year grab.
- Chase said the gesture was an homage to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "People's Elbow" WWE finishing move, though the NFL and many viewers interpreted it differently.
- Chase called on the NFLPA to recruit a "superstar" to fight the fines, saying players "can't even tweet about it" without further punishment.
- The NFL fined 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk $14,926 for a "chugging" gesture after his touchdown against Miami; Juszczyk told ESPN he doesn't drink beer and the motion refers to his "Juice" nickname.
- The NFL charged Colts guard Matt Goncalves $8,847 for a celebration in which he pretended to pop the top off a ball after Tyler Warren's touchdown; the league labeled both incidents "offensive demonstrations."
- The NFL's fine schedule lists $14,926 for a first unsportsmanlike conduct offense and $20,897 for a second offense.
Why it matters: Three star players — Chase, Juszczyk, and Goncalves — are contesting fines totaling more than $23,000 for celebrations many argue are innocuous or contextually meaningful, amplifying pressure on the NFLPA to negotiate clearer celebration rules rather than letting players absorb the cost of the league's discretion.
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