Amon-Ra St. Brown Fined $59,704 by NFL for Celebrations

The NFL came down hard on Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown, fining the wide receiver $59,704 for what the league called “illegal celebrations” and “vulgar acts” during the team’s Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. St. Brown was hit with four separate unsportsmanlike conduct violations — one for each time he mimicked a smoking gesture after making a play — at $14,926 apiece. He has indicated he plans to appeal the fines.

“It’s not good, man. 14 something times four, you do the math,” St. Brown told reporters, according to the Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi. “But I’m going to appeal it.”

The fines, announced by the league on Saturday as part of its weekly discipline roundup, were first reported by Athlon Sports. They make St. Brown one of the most heavily fined players of the young season — and the centerpiece of what players and the union describe as an unprecedented crackdown on celebrations.

What Amon-Ra St. Brown Did Against the Bills

During the Lions’ Week 2 matchup with Buffalo on Thursday Night Football, St. Brown repeatedly celebrated big plays by imitating the act of rolling and smoking — a gesture the league office deemed a violation of its rules against prolonged or excessive celebrations.

One of the flagged celebrations came after he caught a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to open the second half, cutting the Bills’ lead to 10 points. Detroit ultimately fell 41-31, with St. Brown finishing the night with nine catches on 13 targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Rather than backing down, the receiver leaned into the controversy. In a social media post, St. Brown shared an edited video of his celebration showing a game official helping him light up — poking fun at the punishment while his appeal plays out.

A League-Wide Crackdown on Celebrations

St. Brown was far from alone. The NFL handed out 22 unsportsmanlike conduct fines totaling $300,089 for Week 2 infractions, according to reporter Tom Pelissero — nearly double the 20 fines issued in Week 1. Of the Week 2 fines, 13 were for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts, five were for obscene gestures and four were for taunting.

Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins matched St. Brown with four fines totaling $59,704 of his own. Higgins and teammate Ja’Marr Chase were penalized for a celebration modeled on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “People’s Elbow” wrestling move during the Bengals’ win over the Houston Texans.

Chase pushed back on the ruling. “This is where the superstars have to get in with NFLPA and fight for our money,” he said. “I’m getting fined for an elbow… It’s a wrestling move.”

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was also fined for a celebration in which he mimicked chugging a drink. Juszczyk — whose nickname is “Juice” — insisted he was pretending to drink juice, texting ESPN this week: “I don’t even drink beer.”

Six Lions Fined After the Bills Loss

The Lions’ locker room took a collective hit. Six Detroit players were fined for the Bills game, with the team’s total exceeding $120,000, according to Sports Illustrated:

• Amon-Ra St. Brown: $59,704 (four celebrations)
• Jameson Williams: $11,941 (taunting) + $14,926 (celebration)
• Jahmyr Gibbs: $14,926 (celebration)
• Penei Sewell: $14,926 (celebration)
• Tyler Lacy: $7,315 (facemask)
• Devin White: $7,315+ (unnecessary roughness)

The NFLPA Pushes Back

The NFL Players Association has objected to at least some of the fines. “Neither the players nor the union were given notice that these acts would constitute a fine,” an NFLPA spokesperson told Front Office Sports. “In some instances players have been doing these same celebrations for years and they have never been an issue. We are working with the league on how to resolve the fines from last week and how to ensure players have proper notice going forward.”

Under the league’s rulebook, prolonged or excessive celebrations involving taunting, insulting language, or violent or sexual gestures are prohibited. The league announces its fines every Saturday for games played the previous week.

Even sponsors have joined the conversation: Bud Light, an NFL sponsor, has been keeping a running tally of how many fines players have racked up for drinking-related celebrations this season.

Whether St. Brown’s appeal succeeds remains to be seen. But with the league showing no sign of loosening its grip, players across the NFL are learning that this season, every dance comes with a price tag.