The NFL loves money. They do anything and everything to get as much of it as possible. Stream the season on 29 different platforms? No problem. Span the globe and play in 10 different countries? You bet. They love it so much that they are willing to fine players like Indianapolis Colts‘ Matt Goncalves $9K for his celebration against the Chiefs. It’s a matter that is out of hand.
What was Goncalves’ offense? Surely he must have gestured towards the other team in a crude manner, or maybe he inappropriately engaged fans on the sideline. Nope. After receiving the ball on a Tyler Warren touchdown, Goncalves acted like he was taking a drink. It was labeled as an “offensive demonstration”.
Mind you, this is the same league that promotes adult beverages every five seconds on their commercial breaks. The same league that has official tailgate and pregame areas sponsored by these brands. A league that sells a copious amount in the stadium and has designated areas in the stadium named after these companies has the gall to call this offensive. If the ad running on your television during an NFL game isn’t for an adult beverage, it’s for a betting site. If the ad isn’t for a betting site, it’s for an adult beverage.
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Taunting and lewd gestures towards other players and fans are acceptable as fineable offenses. Heck, even fining players $9K like the league did Goncalves is ok too, if the NFL is willing to uproot its current business model. This type of culture has permeated the NFL so much that I wouldn’t have been surprised to see that celebration officially sponsored by one of these companies. That’s how often fans are hit with it.
The “No Fun League” strikes again. Young, impressionable children can’t see that type of celebration on television while their parent is building a can tower next to them on the table during the broadcast. They are blasted on repeat by ads and in person sponsorships, but when a player chugs a drink, which could have been literally anything, that is a step too far. Give me a break.
