Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Week 2 outing against the Buffalo Bills came with a hefty price tag.
The Detroit Lions wide receiver said Thursday that the league fined him four times for what he did during the game, all tied to his celebrations. He said each penalty was worth more than $14,000.
“Yeah, I have,” St. Brown said when asked if he had heard from the league about a fine for his celebration, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.
“It’s not good, man,” a somber St. Brown added. “14 something times four.”
That adds up to more than $56,000 in fines.
According to Bianchi, the celebration in question involved St. Brown mimicking smoking a joint on multiple occasions during the contest.
The financial hit is hardly life-changing for St. Brown, who is playing on a four-year, $120.1 million contract. Still, it’s the kind of fine nobody wants to see attached to a game day.
St. Brown wasn’t the only player taking a hit last week for a celebration.
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was fined $14,926 for simulating chugging a beer, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Your imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,” the NFL wrote.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase also said he was fined for a celebration that paid tribute to WWE legend The Rock’s “People’s Elbow” finisher.
“This is where the superstars have to get in with NFLPA and fight for our money. I’m getting fined for an elbow,” Chase said. “It’s a wresting move.”
Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves was also fined for an “offensive demonstration,” the league said, after he simulated a beer chug.
The NFL is really living up to the “No Fun League” moniker, huh?
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