One of the common memes, one that dates back to before anyone ever heard of a meme, is that the NFL stands for “No Fun League.” The league certainly proved that in announcing the player fines from Week 18 games.
Lions running back Jamaal Williams was fined $18,566 for his celebratory dance following one of his two rushing touchdowns in Detroit’s win in Green Bay in Week 18. It’s hard to know which one drew the fine, because it was the same celebration both times and neither was flagged on the field. Williams does a hip swivel groove that is a staple of NFL cheerleading routines that go on at the same time as touchdown dances.
Here’s where the NFL really got things wrong.
Packers LB Quay Walker was ejected from the game for shoving a Lions trainer attempting to tend to an injured D’Andre Swift. His fine for the blatant unsportsmanlike conduct was just $13,261.
That’s right; shoving a trainer and getting ejected is worthy of a lesser fine than a touchdown celebration dance.
It’s Williams’ second fine this year for an overexuberant touchdown dance. It’s also Walker’s second ejection for striking a member of the opposing training staff in his rookie season.
The NFL fined #Lions RB Jamaal Williams $18,566 again for excessive sexiness – excuse me, unsportsmanlike conduct – as a result of his hip-swiveling TD dances in last Sunday night’s win over the #Packers.
No flags were thrown. pic.twitter.com/Xf5KhUF12b
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2023
The NFL fined #Packers LB Quay Walker $13,261 for shoving a #Lions athletic trainer, who was trying to attend to an injured player last Sunday night. Walker was also flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2023
Talk about some truly awful optics for the NFL.
