Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson escaped punishment for shoving an official during Week 2’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
But that didn’t stop the NFL from fining Watson $35,513 for two other instances during the game.
The NFL fined Watson for a “violent gesture” he made in celebration of a touchdown. Watson and Browns tight end David Njoku mirrored shooting motions at each other that cost both $13,659.
Here’s the “violent gesture” that led to one of Deshaun Watson’s three fines from Monday night.
Watson and David Njoku were each fined $13,659 for the gun-themed celebration after a #Browns TD. Watson was fined $35,513 total, including two fines for unnecessary roughness. pic.twitter.com/bYgU7D3kVY
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2023
Watson was also fined for his two unnecessary roughness penalties relating to two facemask penalties he drew in the loss.
Watson spoke on those penalties after the loss:
Both [penalties were] my fault, but as far as the facemask and things like that, I’m stiff-arming just like everyone else,” he according to the Browns website. “And once they grab my arm as I’m running, they keep pushing, only way I can really let go is to swing across. And once they do that, my hand is stuck in their helmet or in their facemask, so I gotta do a better job of just hitting them with the palm, I guess, and just releasing as much as I can so we don’t get those penalties.”
Though Watson escaped a suspension for shoving the ref, he will likely be under the watchful eye of the league office going forward. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported, Watson’s $230 million guaranteed contract with the Browns contains stipulations that allow the team to void future guarantees if the NFL ever suspends Watson for his on-field conduct.
Watson’s next mistake on the field could prove very costly, indeed.
