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 After the NFL rescinded the fine, Jewell assumed that meant he could continue using the celebration.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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NFL rescinds Josey Jewell’s fine for finger guns celebration

“The Outlaw” is back — the NFL rescinded Josey Jewell’s fine for finger guns, so his signature celebration has returned.

Last month, the NFL fined Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. His offense: celebrating a sack with finger guns.

Jewell is nicknamed “The Outlaw,” so he celebrates big plays by pretending to fire pistols into the air. The league initially held a stance that “any act resembling shooting a gun” would result in a fine.

After appealing, however, Jewell had his fine rescinded (perhaps in part because his finger guns are never pointed at an individual).

“The finger guns — we’re good now, we’re good now,” Jewell said during an interview with DNVR Broncos on Tuesday. “We went in, we talked to the people with the NFL and they said it should be good now.

“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.’ So I’m like, ‘OK, I’m going to let ’em go now.’ So we should be good.”

The fine was rescinded before Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers and Jewell promptly used finger guns at least three times in Week 14. The Broncos even used a photo of the celebration on social media, a sure sign that the celebration is no longer frowned upon.

“The Outlaw” is back, and he’s bringing his finger guns.

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NFL suspends Broncos safety Kareem Jackson after big hit on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Kareem Jackson was suspended four games after he launched himself headfirst into Vikings QB Josh Dobbs on Sunday.

After he launched himself head first into Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday Night Football in Week 11, Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been suspended four games, the NFL announced Monday.

Jackson’s big punishment is the result of his repeat offenses. The veteran safety was fined four times for $89,670 for unnecessary roughness offenses earlier this season, then suspended after his fifth offense last month. Jackson was also ejected from two games.

After his fifth offense, Jackson was originally suspended four games in October, but that suspension was reduced to two games after Jackson’s appeal. He will also appeal the latest suspension.

If the suspension is not reduced, Jackson will be eligible to return against the New England Patriots in Week 16.

Jackson launched himself into Dobbs on Sunday night in his first game back from his previous two-game suspension. The hit was not penalized, but the NFL retroactively handed down punishment after reviewing the game film.

Jackson has come under heavy criticism for his repeat offenses, but teammate Justin Simmons recently came to the safety’s defense, saying Jackson is not a dirty player. Last month, Jackson said that he’s not trying to “maliciously hurt people,” and the safety also said he would change the way he plays and aim lower on tackles after his two-game suspension.

The NFL has countered that actions speak louder than words.

P.J. Locke filled in at strong safety during Jackson’s previous suspension. Health permitting, Locke will now return to that starting role. With Jackson sidelined, the Broncos will hope Locke recovers from his ankle injury quickly. Denver will host the Cleveland Browns in Week 12.

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Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore fined almost $10K for late-game kick vs Giants

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 4th-year defensive tackle actually got off light; the fact that he has so few penalties over his career may have played into his favor.

In the waning moments of last week’s 49-17 win, Neville Gallimore took an uncharacteristic cheap shot at a Giants opponent. It won’t be cheap for the Cowboys defensive tackle, however, to make amends in the eyes of the league.

Gallimore was fined $9,754 for kicking Giants guard Justin Pugh in the groin after a third-down play late in the Week 10 victory. Gallimore was ejected from the game with less than a minute to play; the 15-yard penalty extended a garbage-time touchdown drive and allowed New York to make the final score a little less embarrassing.

On the play, Gallimore had fallen into the back of Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito’s legs. Pugh took offense and gave the fourth-year Oklahoma product a retaliatory shove while we was still on the turf. Gallimore responded by striking back with his foot at Pugh, who was still standing over him.

As is so often the case, officials only saw the second shot.

After the game, Pugh said he wasn’t hurt and even felt bad that the moment would end up incurring a monetary fine for Gallimore.

“Look, he hit the quarterback late. I took exception to it, I hit him. I shouldn’t have done that when he was on the ground- pushed him- and he kicked me,” Pugh said per the New York Post. “I’ve gotten in so many fights in my career, I’m not gonna cost myself money. He’s gonna get a FedEx, so I feel bad for him on that. I don’t want a guy to lose money. But you don’t kick somebody on a football field.”

Now that kick will cost Gallimore nearly five figures.

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The fine is actually on the light side compared to those incurred by several other players in recent weeks. That may be because Gallimore is not a repeat offender; in fact, the former third-round draft pick has drawn just four flags of any type through 44 game appearances.

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Packers OT Zach Tom fined $5K for late hit in Week 11

Packers OT Zach Tom became the sixth different Packers player to be fined this season after an unnecessary roughness play in Week 11 vs. the Steelers.

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom was fined $5,534 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness during Week 11 of the 2023 season.

The penalty on the play in question was wrongfully called on Elgton Jenkins. After Jordan Love threw the game-ending interception as time expired in the fourth quarter, Tom hit Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee a step or two out of bounds and late. The action was reviewed and determined to fall under the league’s “gameday accountability” umbrella, subjecting Tom to a fine. Jenkins was not fined.

Tom’s late hit drove Kazee into a Steelers assistant coach, causing an injury and a skirmish featuring multiple players on the sideline to end the game.

Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig was fined for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter of the game. His action was a blindside block on a punt return.

Tom is the sixth different Packers player to be fined this season. The team’s most recent fine arrived for Rashan Gary for a face mask penalty in Week 9.

The league is posting all fined penalties and actions from the previous week on Saturdays this season.

From the NFL: “Players subject to accountability measures receive a letter informing them of what they did, a video of the play in question, why they are being fined and how much it will cost them. They also receive information on how to appeal the fine. If they choose not to appeal, the fine is withheld from their next game check.”

All appeals are handled appeals officers James Thrash and Derrick Brooks, two former players appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. Fines are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation.

Packers Wire will track the on-field penalties and resulting fines in recurring posts each week.

Week 1: LB De’Vondre Campbell ($10,927), CB Rasul Douglas ($13,659)
Week 3: CB Rasul Douglas ($11,473), TE Ben Sims ($4,167)
Week 8: OLB Kingsley Enagbare ($5,170)
Week 9: OLB Rashan Gary ($10,927)
Week 11: OT Zach Tom ($5,534)

Packers OLB Rashan Gary fined almost $11K for facemask penalty in Week 9

OLB Rashan Gary incurred the sixth fine by a Packers player during the 2023 season.

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary was fined $10,927 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness during Week 9 of the 2023 season.

Gary was penalized 15 yards for a facemask on Los Angeles Rams quarterback Brett Rypien at the 5:22 mark in the first quarter of the Packers’ 20-3 win. The penalty falls under the league’s “gameday accountability” umbrella and was subject to a fine.

Gary grabbed Rypien’s facemask and twisted the quarterback’s head while attempting to make a sack.

The financial loss isn’t a significant one for Gary, who signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Packers in October. The deal included a $35.7 million signing bonus, so the fine money represents a tiny fraction of the bonus.

Gary is the sixth Packers player to be fined this season. Kingsley Enagbare was fined for roughing the passer in Week 8.

The league is posting all fined penalties and actions from the previous week on Saturdays this season.

From the NFL: “Players subject to accountability measures receive a letter informing them of what they did, a video of the play in question, why they are being fined and how much it will cost them. They also receive information on how to appeal the fine. If they choose not to appeal, the fine is withheld from their next game check.”

All appeals are handled appeals officers James Thrash and Derrick Brooks, two former players appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. Fines are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation.

Packers Wire will track the on-field penalties and resulting fines in recurring posts each week.

Week 1: LB De’Vondre Campbell ($10,927), CB Rasul Douglas ($13,659)
Week 3: CB Rasul Douglas ($11,473), TE Ben Sims ($4,167)
Week 8: OLB Kingsley Enagbare ($5,170)
Week 9: OLB Rashan Gary ($10,927)

Packers OLB Kingsley Enagbare fined $5K for hit on QB in Week 8

The NFL fined Packers OLB Kingsley Enagbare for a roughing the passer penalty against the Vikings in Week 8.

A late update: Green Bay Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare was fined by the NFL for an illegal hit on the quarterback during Week 8 of the 2023 season.

Enagbare was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer win at the 4:54 mark of the first quarter during the Packers’ 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The league fined him $5,170 for a penalty that falls under the league’s “gameday accountability” umbrella.

It represents Enagbare’s first fine of the season. Overall, 31 different actions or penalties resulted in a fine during Week 8 of the NFL season.

Enagbare is the first Packers player to be fined under the system since Week 3 and the fifth fine for a Packers player overall this season.

Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum was fined $16,832 for an illegal hit on Packers quarterback Jordan Love in Week 8. His infraction came in the first quarter with 1:13 left on a sack of Love that wasn’t penalized.

The league is posting all fined penalties and actions from the previous week on Saturdays this season.

From the NFL: “Players subject to accountability measures receive a letter informing them of what they did, a video of the play in question, why they are being fined and how much it will cost them. They also receive information on how to appeal the fine. If they choose not to appeal, the fine is withheld from their next game check.”

All appeals are handled appeals officers James Thrash and Derrick Brooks, two former players appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. Fines are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation.

Packers Wire will track the on-field penalties and resulting fines in recurring posts each week.

Week 1: LB De’Vondre Campbell ($10,927), CB Rasul Douglas ($13,659)
Week 3: CB Rasul Douglas ($11,473), TE Ben Sims ($4,167)
Week 8: OLB Kingsley Enagbare ($5,170)

2 Broncos players were fined by NFL for finger gun celebrations

The NFL fined Broncos LB Josey Jewell and DL Zach Allen $13,659 each for their finger gun celebrations against the Chiefs.

A pair of Denver Broncos defenders were fined by the NFL during their bye week break over the weekend.

Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell and defensive lineman Zach Allen were both fined $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, according to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold and others.

After Jewell sacked Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter, the linebacker — nicknamed “The Outlaw” — celebrated by pretending to shoot in the air with finger guns. Allen joined in with his own finger guns.

As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports pointed out on Twitter/X, the NFL will fine players for “any act resembling shooting a gun.”

The play was negated by a defensive holding penalty called against Denver’s secondary, so the sack does not count toward Jewell’s stats. The linebacker officially finished the game with five tackles, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Allen totaled four tackles and a half-sack in a 24-9 win.

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D.J. Wonnum fined for hit on Jordan Love

Wonnum became the fifth Minnesota Vikings player fined this season

The Minnesota Vikings’ defense got hit with another fine on Saturday afternoon. According to The Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer, Vikings outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum was fined $16,282 for his sack of Jordan Love.

You can see the hit below in Krammer’s tweet.

The reason Wonnum was fined is likely due to how he lands on Love at the end of the play. That is something that the NFL has been adamant you can’t do. They added that to the roughing the passer penalty language a few years ago to help keep quarterbacks safer.

There are plenty of these penalties called throughout the course of the game. Some of them are a little egregious and don’t qualify to the rule, but this one should have been called on the field. Wonnum’s weight landed right on Love and that is something you cannot do.

Wonnum is the fifth Vikings player fined this season and the sixth overall fine.

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Broncos buzz: Injury and fine updates ahead of Week 8

Broncos placed WR Brandon Johnson on IR and elevated WR Tre’Quan Smith to game-day roster. Meanwhile, RB Javonte Williams was fined $13,433.

The Denver Broncos made a change at wide receiver ahead of their showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.

First, the Broncos placed wide receiver Brandon Johnson (hamstring) on injured reserve on Saturday. That rules Johnson out for at least the next four games. He will be eligible to return in Week 13.

To fill Johnson’s spot on the game-day roster against the Chiefs, Denver elevated wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith from the practice squad to the game-day-roster. Smith will revert back to the practice squad on Monday, but the Broncos have an open spot on the 53-man roster now, so Smith might be fully promoted to the active roster in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, on the fine front, Denver running back Javonte Williams was fined $13,433 for unnecessary roughness against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Williams was not penalized for the play, but the NFL deemed it fine-worthy after review.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson appears to have avoided a fine for his illegal hit on Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave in Week 7. The NFL presumably felt that Jackson’s two-game suspension (and loss of $279,444 in game checks) was punishment enough.

Sunday’s game against the Chiefs will air on CBS in select markets at 2:25 p.m. MT (view the TV map here).