Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is facing a hefty fine from the NFL due to his touchdown celebration during Week 16. The league has penalized Jefferson $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically citing a “violent gesture” he made by briefly mimicking a gun signal at the camera. This marks the second time this season that Jefferson has been fined for his celebrations in the end zone, adding to the growing tally of $24,586 solely for his touchdown celebrations.
Jefferson, known for his viral scoring moments and famous “Griddy” dance, had previously been fined $10,927 for taunting after a Week 4 win against the Carolina Panthers on October 1. Despite both fines being considered first offenses, any subsequent violations could result in increased penalties this season.
Justin Jefferson was fined $10,927 for unsportsmanlike conduct in last Sunday’s win at Carolina. Timing of it aligns with this touchdown, and the amount aligns with a first offense for taunting. Have at it.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 7, 2023
The Vikings, as a team, have faced a total of $114,290 in fines this season, positioning them as the eighth-least fined team in the league according to Spotrac. This figure includes fines incurred by other players on the team. Harrison Phillips and Najee Thompson also received fines for unnecessary roughness, with Phillips being fined $10,927 and Thompson receiving a $4,167 penalty.
The team’s relatively low total fines may be attributed to their overall disciplined play, as they rank among the least penalized teams in the NFL, receiving the third-fewest penalties. However, it’s worth noting that the team recently experienced an uptick in fines, receiving three in the past week.
One of the most significant fines on the Vikings’ roster was imposed on Harrison Smith, who received a $21,855 penalty for impermissible use of the helmet in Week 3. Ironically, Smith had previously criticized the league for what he perceived as a double standard, where defensive players are fined more frequently than offensive players for certain rule violations.
The NFL fined #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct after his TD last week.
It’s apparently for Jefferson making a brief, gun-like signal at the camera here, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(d)
with a “violent gesture.” pic.twitter.com/3azdLW5ARx— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 30, 2023
Smith pointed out that the league’s lack of transparency in reporting fines had been an issue, and he advocated for more openness in disclosing the total fines imposed on defensive versus offensive players over the years. The NFL’s new gameday accountability initiative now requires the league to report all fines given each week, addressing some of the transparency concerns raised by players like Smith.
As of 16 weeks into the season, league data reveals that defensive players have received 246 fines compared to 114 fines issued to offensive players, as per Spotrac’s database. The disparities in fines between defensive and offensive players underscore the ongoing debate about consistency and fairness in the NFL’s enforcement of rules on the field.
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