As celebrations of the NFL finger gun increase, so do the penalties and fines

October 11, 2024

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As celebrations of the NFL finger gun increase, so do the penalties and fines

By now you’ve seen it. A player makes a big catch or run for a first down or a touchdown. He jumps up, extends an arm, extends his index finger and gives a thumbs up to create an imaginary gun. Generally, the “shots” are fired on the field, in the direction of no one in particular. But the flags are still followed for the unsportsmanlike conduct, which is a 15-meter penalty.

The NFL is sending the message that it’s done with finger guns after eight penalties and fines were imposed on players for such celebrations in the first four weeks of the season. Two more players were cited Sunday for finger-wagging, which the NFL considers a violent gesture. The fines for week 5 will be announced on Saturday afternoon.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London drew a flag and fine for the gesture in Week 2. In Week 3, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was assessed two penalties for violent gestures. A pair of $14,069 fines followed. Five players – Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, New Orleans Saints defenders Marshon Lattimore and Alontae Taylor, New York Jets wideout Allen Lazard and Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols – were punished for the celebration in Week 4.

The players were fined an average of $12,697.50 for these eight violations. Cincinnati Bengals wideout Andrei Iosivas was also flagged and fined for unsportsmanlike conduct in Week 2 when he fired a bow and arrow after a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he appealed the $5,305 fine and won.

Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs was penalized for pointing downfield in Week 5, as did Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton. Still, Lamb and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster were not penalized for celebrating first-down plays with similar gestures in last week’s games, although that doesn’t rule out possible fines.

Slayton noticed the discrepancy about X.

It’s cool when they do it

— Darius Slayton (@Young_Slay2) October 8, 2024

The NFL’s rules on unsportsmanlike conduct are as follows:

There may be no unsportsmanlike behavior. This applies to any action that is contrary to generally accepted principles of sportsmanship. In particular, such acts include, but are not limited to: (a) Throwing a punch or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent even though no contact is made. (b) Using abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures towards opponents, teammates, officials or representatives of the League. (c) Using baiting or harassing actions or words that may cause ill will between teams. (d) Any violent gesture or act that is sexually suggestive or offensive.

London he said regretted his partysimulating firing a machine gun into the air. Three days earlier, the Falcons had hosted the football team from Apalachee High School in Georgia, where two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting on September 4.

It may feel like a sudden move, but NFL and team officials as well as players in NFLPA leadership roles say the league’s distaste for such actions is nothing new. The NFL has a long-standing rule that discourages players from making violent gestures on the field. In addition to finger guns, this also includes throat slitting and gang signs. In 2022, the league fined 13 Pittsburgh Steelers players between $4,715 and $13,261 for a choreographed film. a machine gun-esque interception party. In 2023, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and tight end David Njoku were each fined $13,569 for a weapon themed party. Those are just two examples from previous seasons.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association are jointly negotiating an on-field code of conduct for all players. Fines, according to the NFL rule book“will be donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and to the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and well-being of athletes at all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”

Two NFL player development directors said the penalties and fines were not a new initiative or focus by the league, which has cracked down on bullying in recent seasons. Instead, they said, players have just started using the finger gun fest more often.

A senior league official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to comment on a specific incident, said players are warned every year that such gestures will result in penalties and fines. Each year, the league shows players a video instructing them on acceptable and unacceptable forms of celebration. The NFL Rule Bookgiven to every player every year also bans all weapon-related gun salutes.

A league official said that as such celebrations became popular at high school and college games, the NFL saw a trickle-down effect in its own games.

Among the violent gestures on display in college football this season: Last week, South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart imitated firing a machine gun at Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart while the quarterback was still on the ground recovering from Stewart’s sack. In Week 1, during LSU’s first touchdown of the season, wide receiver Kyren Lacy pretended to shoot a gun at USC’s defense.

“We’re starting to see it, I hate to say it, but it’s happening more and more,” said Steve Shaw, the NCAA’s national coordinator of officials. told the Associated Press earlier this week. “We’re just trying to say this is not acceptable. Gun violence is not acceptable in our game.”

Multiple NFL staffers monitor all aspects of the youth game, and the league remains rigorous about its message to younger audiences. Due to the celebrity status of its players, the NFL is cautious about curbing violent gestures in the game, and hopes that the recent punishments and fines will soon force players to make a change.

As a second high-ranking NFL official said when asked about the issue: “Non-negotiable. Find another expression to celebrate.”