Kansas City Chiefs' star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has been slapped with a hefty fine of over $14,000 by the NFL for what has been termed as a "violent gesture" during a game in Buffalo, New York.
This incident occurred amidst a 31-20 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on November 17, where Mahomes celebrated a touchdown pass with a finger guns gesture, a common symbol for a quarterback known for his frequent passing.
The incident, which was highlighted in a CBS Sports package before a commercial break, was later reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. According to The Blaze, Pelissero noted that the league had fined Mahomes for the gesture, which was deemed unsportsmanlike. "QB Patrick Mahomes $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture) as he celebrated a touchdown pass last week in Buffalo," Pelissero reported.
Adding to the controversy, the news of the fine was not made public until six days after the incident. This meant that Mahomes likely received the news while in North Carolina, preparing for his next game against the Carolina Panthers.
The league's decision sparked widespread outrage among fans, who labeled the fine as "woke" and "pathetic." Some fans even referred to the NFL as the "No Fun League." One fan suggested a show of solidarity with Mahomes, urging fellow supporters to mimic the gesture on camera. "All fans should rally together and start doing this gesture whenever possible to be seen on camera," the fan proposed.
Another fan expressed their disbelief at the situation, stating, "So in the US, we can have guns legally but cannot make simple gestures. What a joke." Other fans took to making gun-related puns while criticizing the NFL's perceived hypocrisy on the matter. "The NFL is robbing players in broad daylight," a popular YouTuber commented.
Mahomes, a former player at Texas Tech University, known for its "Guns Up" motto, has only been fined once before. CBS Sports reports that in December 2023, he was fined $50,000 for "verbally abusing" officials during another loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The NFL has previously penalized players for similar gestures. In September 2023, Cleveland Browns' players Deshaun Watson and David Njoku were fined for making gun gestures after a touchdown. Watson was fined three times in that game, amounting to over $35,000. The gun gesture alone cost both players $13,659, which is $410 less than the current charge. This raises questions about the consistency of the NFL's fines and its stance on such gestures.
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