Ja’Marr Chase is not letting the NFL’s celebration police win. The Cincinnati Bengals’ superstar wide receiver is appealing the fine he got slapped with for his Week 2 celebration, and he is laying down a challenge to the NFL Players Association to step up and protect players’ cash. Chase and his teammate Tee Higgins were among a group of players hit with fines this week for their on-field fun.
The “People’s Elbow” Sparks a Firestorm
What exactly got Chase and Higgins into trouble? After Chase pulled off an absolutely incredible touchdown catch, one that could totally be an early contender for the best grab all season, the duo busted out a new celebration. Chase said it was a shout-out to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s wrestling days, specifically his famous “People’s Elbow” finishing move. The celebration involves bending arms, making a fist, holding elbows with the other hand, then lowering the forearm and pointing forward. But the NFL, and plenty of other folks who saw it Sunday, apparently had a different interpretation, calling it phallic. Chase isn’t having it, though. “I can’t say what something we made up, and then everybody else saying what it is,” he said. “Everybody’s gonna have their opinion of what it looked like, what it is.” He also admitted they might not keep using it, saying, “It was something different for us, something new, something we were trying to be unique with. They’re just stopping our fun. It is what it is.” The Bengals beat the Houston Texans 20-6 in that game.
Fines Fly For “Offensive Demonstrations”
It wasn’t just Chase and Higgins getting dinged. The NFL also fined Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves and San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for what the league called “offensive demonstrations.” Goncalves apparently mimicked chugging a beer after tight end Tyler Warren scored, with Warren handing him the ball and pretending to pop the top. Juszczyk did a similar gesture after catching a touchdown pass in a rout against the Miami Dolphins. He’s saying it’s a regular move for him, an ode to his nickname “Juice,” and has nothing to do with booze. The fullback even told ESPN he doesn’t drink beer.
Chase saw Juszczyk’s fine and immediately called for the players’ union to get involved. This isn’t just about a few bucks for these guys, it’s about player expression and the league dictating what’s “in poor taste.” It’s unclear how much money Chase and Higgins owe, but you know this fight is bigger than just one celebration. What will the NFLPA do? Will these appeals actually change anything? We will have to wait and see what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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