49ers' Juszczyk Baffled by NFL Fine for 'Beer' Celebration — SkimNews
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- Kyle Juszczyk was fined $14,926 by the NFL for "engaging in offensive demonstrations" after imitating chugging a beer with under eight minutes left in the third quarter of the 49ers' win over the Dolphins.
- Juszczyk rejected the fine at his locker, staging a three-minute media session with a "Not Beer" jug and his juice-box thigh pad, insisting the stadium chants "Juice" when he catches — and that he rarely drinks beer at all.
- Juszczyk will appeal the fine alongside a $20,033 Week 1 unnecessary-roughness penalty in a Tuesday hearing he called a "doubleheader," with the league warning that further offenses could lead to suspension.
- Colts guard Matt Goncalves drew an $8,847 fine for the same beer-chugging imitation after tight end Tyler Warren handed him the football following a touchdown against the Chiefs.
- Bengals receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins also face fines for their new first-down celebration, which Chase said is an homage to WWE's "The People's Elbow" and not what viewers have interpreted it as.
- Chase urged star players to work with the NFLPA to fight the fines, saying "They're just stopping the fun," while teammates like George Kittle teased Juszczyk by voting to rename him "Beer."
Why it matters: The NFL levied celebration fines against at least four players in the same week — $14,926 on Juszczyk, $8,847 on Goncalves, and pending penalties on Chase and Higgins — escalating a pattern that Chase is now trying to turn into a collective NFLPA fight. For Juszczyk personally, a combined $34,959 in fines plus the threat of suspension for repeat offenses means the league is treating mimed beverage gestures the same as on-field safety violations.
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