The NFL has come under fire after Jameson Williams was fined $19,697 for grabbing his crotch – despite the NFL using the gesture to promote its YouTube highlights.
The Lions wide receiver connected with Jared Goff for a 64-yard score in Detroit’s blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Williams celebrated by leaping into the air and putting his hand to his genitals – much like Marshawn Lynch did following his iconic ‘Beast Quake’ run against the Saints in 2011.
The Seahawks legend pulled out the same move after a 79-yard touchdown run a decade ago.
Lynch was fined $11,050 for the second dive and now Williams has been slapped with a punishment for ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct (obscene gestures)’.
But eagled-eyed fans spotted that Williams’ celebration is the thumbnail image on the NFL’s official YouTube highlights of the game. By Saturday night, the video had already had 1.1million views.
‘Funny how this gesture is labeled as “obscene” by the NFL and yet they use it to market their own videos,’ one social media said.
Other fans were left frustrated by the punishment, too. ‘What a joke. Bigger things to worry about and the league focuses on this,’ one said.
‘The NFL brings more attention to the “gesture” with the fine than the gesture got when he did it,’ another added.
Patrick Mahomes was also slapped with a hefty fine from the NFL over a touchdown celebration.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback found Noah Gray with a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
After connecting with the tight end, the three-time Super Bowl winner made a gesture that caught the attention of the powers-that-be.
Mahomes pointed with two fingers on both hands, which the league has ruled as a mimic of using guns. The NFL has cracked down on gun-related gestures this season and Mahomes has become the latest to fall victim to the league’s stricter measures.
The 29-year-old was issued a $14,069 fine by the league for unsportsmanlike conduct – ruled ‘a violent gesture – according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
