Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson finds himself dragged into one of the NFL’s silliest controversies after latest punishment
The Dallas Cowboys tight end scored 2 touchdowns in Week 2, but one of his celebrations will cost him. The NFL’s reasoning is drawing heavy criticism for a pretty obvious reason.
The NFL has done it again. Already nicknamed the No Fun League, the league heading into Week 3 gave everyone a reminder of the reason behind the moniker. The NFL decided to fine multiple players for a specific celebration, a decision that comes off as soft and even hypocritical. Unfortunately for him, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson finds himself in the middle of it.
On Thursday, Adam Schefter from ESPN reported that San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was fined $14,926 for an “offensive demonstration” during Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. The offensive demonstration in question? According to Schefter, the NFL wrote: “Your imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
For the 49ers fullback, the fine is laughable. Juszczyk is literally nicknamed “Juice,” which is what he pretends to drink when celebrating. Heck, as he told Schefter, he doesn’t even drink beer. He’s always chugged away when celebrating touchdowns and first downs throughout his NFL career. This is year 14 of Juszczyk’s career. Him being fined for this now is wild. But the league didn’t stop there.
Ferguson and other players caught up in the same wave
Other players fell victim to the same enforcement. Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves was also fined $8,847 for the exact same reason the NFL cited for Juszczyk.
Which leads us to the Cowboys tight end. Ferguson scored two touchdowns in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, and one of his celebrations followed a similar pattern. Ferguson pretended to open a beer and started chugging.
Schefter reported Friday morning he was the latest victim of the NFL’s fining spree. Ferguson is being docked $13,611 for the celebration. The NFL cited the same “poor taste” argument for it. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Ferguson is appealing the fine.
The NFL’s hypocrisy is the real story
This is drawing significant criticism to the NFL, and that criticism is fair.
The NFL has been sponsored by beer companies for years. According to Front Office Sports, Anheuser-Busch pays the league more than $250 million per year to promote Bud Light and other beverages. Fans consistently see commercials promoting drinking beer during games and outside of them. In many ways, the league itself pushes beer on its audience.
Fans in the stands are drinking beer. Beer goes hand in hand with football. The NFL embraces it by selling it in the stands and by partnering with significant sponsors.
And then the league turns around and punishes players for pretending to shotgun a beer? It’s pathetic.
There’s a reasonable argument for fining players over truly obscene celebrations. The NFL punishes players who mimic sexual acts or use gang signs or anything considered genuinely offensive. That makes sense. But chugging a beer?
The league just makes some bizarre decisions with the way it approaches fines. And with appeals headed their way, this might end up being a battle they lose.
