As Buffalo Bills starting quarterback Josh Allen prepares for Sunday afternoon’s showdown against the Miami Dolphins, he was hit with a pretty hefty punishment from the league for a “violent gesture” he made during Sunday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
In recent seasons, the NFL has made a point to crack down on touchdown celebrations it considers violent, particularly those involving gun-related gestures. That policy came into play again this week, and Allen’s bank account took a hit as a result.
During the third quarter of Sunday’s win, Allen scored a rushing touchdown to extend Buffalo’s lead over the Chiefs. As he celebrated with his teammates, he joined wide receiver Elijah Moore in a joint celebration.
To celebrate the score, Allen and Moore faced one another and made finger-gun gestures. The NFL, however, was not too pleased with the gesture.
On Saturday, the league revealed that it had fined both players for what it described as a “violent gesture.”
According to the announcement, Allen was fined $14,491 while Moore received a $13,888 fine — though as Pro Football Talk noted, the league offered no clarification on why Allen’s penalty was $603 higher despite both players doing the exact same thing at the exact same time.
It’s worth mentioning that the celebration itself appeared harmless aside from its resemblance to a firearm gesture, but that’s precisely the kind of display the NFL has made a point to eliminate in recent years.
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