The NFL has decided that pretending to drink a juice box is permissible behavior after all.
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San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was initially fined $14,926 after a recent touchdown celebration in which he appeared to chug an imaginary drink — an act the league initially interpreted as simulating beer consumption. Juszczyk won his appeal Wednesday as the NFL moved to clarify what is and isn’t acceptable in player celebrations.
His was one of 20 recent celebration-related fines that players appealed. While several appeals remain pending, most are expected to be overturned, according to a person familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the process.
In a joint statement Wednesday, the NFL and NFL Players Association clarified that celebrations imitating drinking a beverage “will not be considered violations or result in discipline.” The league also announced a change in how it will handle celebrations that fall into a gray area: Rather than immediately imposing discipline, it will first contact the player and provide guidance. Continued use of a celebration after that warning could result in a fine.
After catching a touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 20, Juszczyk pantomimed opening a drink, tipping it toward his mouth and chugging it. The NFL interpreted the performance as Juszczyk pretending to drink a beer and fined him for an “offensive demonstration” that could be considered in poor taste.
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There was just one problem: Juszczyk, whose nickname is “Juice,” said he was drinking an imaginary juice box.
In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships.
In withdrawing the fine, the league acknowledged the celebration involved an imaginary juice box, not an imaginary beer.
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