Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is the latest NFL player to get dinged for a celebration the league deemed out of bounds, and the fine is already drawing attention for how minor the moment was.
Per Adam Schefter, Ferguson was fined $13,611 for “imitation of shotgunning a beer” during Dallas’ Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders. The NFL said the act “constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably could be construed as being in poor taste,” according to the report.
Ferguson isn’t alone. San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Kyle Juszczyk, known as “Juice,” was hit with the same fine for an “offensive demonstration,” and he and his wife, Kristin, mocked the punishment on social media.
The penalty lands at a strange time for a league that has multiple official alcohol partnerships, including Bud Light, Jameson Irish Whiskey and Barefoot wine. Still, Ferguson’s side of this isn’t done yet - ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that he will appeal the fine.
This is also becoming a pattern for Dallas early in the season. In Week 1 against the New York Giants, Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after holding the ball out in front of a defender as he jogged into the end zone.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey then missed the extra point, leaving Dallas down 28-20 at the time. The miss didn’t end up mattering, but Williams was fined $11,941 for taunting and later apologized publicly.
Ferguson, though, isn’t expected to take that route. His celebration came on a big day for the Cowboys and for Dak Prescott, who set the new franchise record for career touchdown passes by moving past Tony Romo. Ferguson helped make that happen with four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns, a sharp rebound after managing just two catches for six yards in the season-opening loss to the Giants.
Dallas now turns to Sunday’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil, with kickoff set for 3:25 p.m. CT.
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