Tag: Finger Guns

Jets WR Allen Lazard fined $14,069 for finger guns celebration vs. Broncos

As three Broncos players found out last season, the NFL forbids “any act resembling shooting a gun.” Allen Lazard is the latest to be fined.

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard was fined $14,069 by the NFL after celebrating a first-down catch with finger guns during the third quarter of last week’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Lazard was not pointing the “guns” at any particular player, but he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and has now received a fine to boot.

Even if the gesture is “aimed” away from opponents, the NFL has made it clear that “any act resembling shooting a gun” is not allowed. Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, defensive lineman Zach Allen and ex-Denver linebacker Josey Jewell found that out the hard way last season.

After initially rescinding a fine given to Jewell for the celebration last fall, the NFL fined him again for the same offense later in the season. Clearly, the league still wants the celebration to go away.

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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 After the NFL rescinded the fine, Jewell assumed that meant he could continue using the celebration.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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