The NFL fined three Cleveland Browns players a combined $27,738 this week for pantomiming smoking in the end zone after a touchdown, but the league's enforcement raises questions about arbitrary rule-making.
Running back Quinshon Judkins and quarterback Deshaun Watson each were fined $14,397, while guard Austin Barber was fined $6,944 for the celebration during the Browns' game against Pittsburgh on Saturday. The three players pretended to smoke an invisible joint to celebrate Judkins' second-quarter touchdown.
The fines highlight an inconsistency in the NFL's enforcement of celebration rules. Just days earlier, the league rescinded fines against San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson for pretending to drink from an invisible glass after scoring—a similar mime act involving a substance that doesn't actually exist.
The league has not publicly explained the distinction between the two celebrations or provided a coherent rationale for why imaginary smoking is prohibited while imaginary drinking is acceptable.
The fines come as cannabis is legal for recreational use in 24 states plus Washington D.C., with medical cannabis legal in 38 states. Public opinion has shifted dramatically, with roughly 68% of Americans supporting legalization according to recent polling.
The NFL's regulatory approach appears disconnected from the legal and cultural landscape in which it operates. Players are being penalized for pantomime that references a substance that is legal in more than half the nation.
The variance in fine amounts also raises questions about equal enforcement across positions. The inconsistent rescission of fines in similar cases suggests there may be room for negotiation with the NFL Players Association on these rules.
