By Reinaldo Oliveros
Nov 25, 2024, 08:30 AM EST
The NFL fined Patrick Mahomes $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
As reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, The sanction is due to a “violent gesture” that the player made during the celebration of a touchdown pass to tight end Noah Gray in the fourth quarter of the game.
The gesture, captured by cameras, showed Mahomes simulating shooting with his fingers, which generated controversy among fans.
Many consider the action harmless, but the league took a different stance, in line with its growing concerns about gun-related celebrations.
This is not the first time Mahomes has faced sanctions against Buffalo. In 2023, the quarterback was fined $50,000 for allegedly “verbally abusing” the referees after a loss to the Bills.
The NFL’s stance on violent gestures
The Mahomes incident occurs in a context of zero tolerance by the league towards this type of celebrations. In recent weeks, the NFL has strengthened sanctions, arguing that this type of conduct “sends the wrong message.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that although these rules have been in place for years, weapons-related gestures have increased significantly this season.
So far, the league has imposed 17 fines for “obscene gestures,” compared to no similar sanctions in 2023.
Among the most recent sanctions are names such as Drake London, Falcons receiver, fined for a similar gesture in Week 2, and Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals, who was fined $19,697 in Week 5 for a celebration that simulated draw a weapon.
“We believe they are not appropriate,” an NFL executive told CBS Sports. “It is something we must eradicate before it becomes normal.”
The controversy highlights a larger challenge for the NFL: balancing discipline with the spontaneity and passion that players and fans bring to the game.
Mahomes, one of the most iconic faces in the league, has not yet commented on the sanction. However, his punishment reignites the debate about the limits on celebrations and the responsibility of athletes as role models on and off the field.
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