New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has finally experienced his “welcome to the NFL moment,” but it comes by way of dual fines.
The league hammered Nabers for two different “gun-like” celebrations they deemed “violent gesture violations.” In total, the first-round pick was fined $28,128.
The infractions occurred during a Week 3 victory over the Cleveland Browns in which Nabers scored two touchdowns.
The NFL fined #Giants WR Malik Nabers $28,128 for two unsportsmanlike conduct/violent gesture violations — a gun-like celebration in last week’s win at Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/t7fseoCPMG
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 28, 2024
Officially, each of Nabers’ fines cost him $14,069.
The very moment Nabers celebrated, it was evident the league would send him a FedEx package requesting a check. A week prior, they fined Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London $14,069 for a similar infraction they deemed a “machine gun-like” celebration.
Perhaps they both were pretending to shoot Super Soakers? Or maybe a potato gun? The NFL interpreted each celebration differently and that’s all that matters in the end.
For Nabers, it’s both his first and second NFL fine. He’ll likely be advised to avoid similar situations and celebrations in the future or risk escalating fined regardless of interpretation or meaning.
