NFL changes stance on finger guns, fines Josey Jewell and Jonathon Cooper again

The NFL fined Josey Jewell for his finger guns celebration. He appealed and the fine was lifted. He then did it again and was fined again.

Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell and defensive lineman Zach Allen were both fined $13,659 for using finger guns as a celebration against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.

Jewell is nicknamed “The Outlaw” and he does not point his finger guns at opposing players, so it wasn’t surprising when he successfully appealed the fine and had it lifted. After the NFL rescinded the fine, Jewell assumed that meant he could continue using the celebration.

“The fine got taken away and I’m assuming — they didn’t say like, ‘Hey, it’s a warning,’ they said, ‘Hey you’re good to go, the fine got taken away,'” Jewell said during an interview with DNVR Broncos last week. “So I’m like, ‘OK, I’m going to let ’em go now.’ So we should be good.”

Jewell’s assumption was wrong.

The linebacker was fined $13,659 by the NFL for using finger guns in celebrations against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. Teammate Jonathon Cooper was also fined $5,362 for joining in on the celebration.

This is the play in question:

It’s curious that the NFL would lift Jewell’s fine and then punish him again for something the league seemingly signed off on. Jewell will undoubtedly appeal this latest fine as well. Perhaps the NFL can provide some clarity this time on if the celebration is or is not allowed.

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