The NFL unwittingly waded into a silly back-and-forth with Kyle Juszczyk on Thursday by fining him over a touchdown celebration that it says imitates “chugging a beer” which the league finds offensive while but San Francisco 49ers fullback has a pretty convincing explanation for:
“Man, I feel like there’s already been so much put out there,” Juszczyk said while facing a scrum of reporters around his locker stall. “I don’t know how else to say it. I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration.
“I think you guys all know my nickname is ‘Juice.’ I have juice [inscribed] on my pads, and the stadium yells, ‘Juice’ when I catch the ball.
NFL FINES PLAYER NICKNAMED ‘JUICE’ $14,926 FOR USING A DRINKING CELEBRATION, CALLING IT OFFENSIVE
“When I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice and it’s been that way for years.”
That wasn’t the NFL’s interpretation when it sent Juszczyk an email telling him he’s being fined $14,926 for what it described as, “an offensive demonstration” that could “reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
NEW NFL FINE SCHEDULE IS GOING TO A POINT SYSTEM THAT COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSIONS BUT ALSO REFUNDS
The celebration in question includes Juszczyk raising his hand to his mouth and acting as if he’s drinking something.
The league immediately decided Juszczyk was imitating drinking beer.
“That’s the other side of it, is I don’t even drink beer,” Juszczyk said. “I may be drinking like five times a year and always in the offseason, and it’s usually with [teammate] George [Kittle] because he peer pressures me.”
Kittle, by the way, found this whole episode quite funny. Maybe because it’s ridiculous.
Anyway, the tight end has called Juszczyk by his nickname for years. But know he’s going to change that.
“I think we’re going to sign a petition,” Kittle said. “Juice’s new nickname is Beer now.”
Niners quarterback quarterback Brock Purdy doesn’t understand the fine because Juszczyk has been doing his drinking celebration for years and never been fined for it before.
“Yeah, I’ve seen Juice do his celebration for like five years,” Purdy said. “So I’m a little confused about that punishment he’s dealing with.”
Purdy said head coach Kyle Shanahan has warned the players about violent acts in their celebrations or jumping on the goal post — looking at you, Stefon Diggs – but never has the Juszczyk celebration been mentioned.
“Juice, that’s his name, he drinks a juice box after scoring a touchdown,” Purdy said. “We’re all confused and it [stinks] to be honest for him.”
This also kind of [stinks]: Juszczyk said he didn’t find out from the league first. Shanahan found out first and told him early Thursday morning.
“When Kyle told me that during breakfast, I thought maybe he was just messing with me,” Juszczyk said. “But it’s real.”
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Look, the NFL has rules and some apply to improper celebrations. But to jump to conclusions that the intent of this celebration was to drink alcohol and specifically beer was a leap.
(Maybe not a leap from a league that is awash in beer sponsorships).
Juszczyk confirmed he is appealing, as OutKick reported earlier. The appeal hearing is scheduled for Tuesday via Zoom.
