The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk nearly $15,000 after he performed a celebration that appeared to mimic chugging a beverage following a touchdown catch against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to NBC News.
The league described the gesture as 'an offensive demonstration' that 'could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,' according to TheBlaze. Right-leaning outlets reported that other players were also fined this week for similar celebrations the league deemed inappropriate.
Juszczyk, nicknamed 'Juice,' is reported by right-leaning outlets to have made a pose resembling drinking a beer, though some outlets, including The Western Journal, raised the question of whether the gesture was meant to represent beer or juice.
Right-leaning commentary outlets criticized the fine as excessive and accused the NFL of hypocrisy, with TheBlaze noting that events following the fine's announcement made the league's stance appear contradictory, though specifics of those events were not detailed in the supplied material.
How each side covered it
Left
- NBC News reported the specific fine amount of nearly $15,000.
- Coverage noted the NFL's characterization of the celebration as pretending to chug a beer.
“49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk fined nearly $15K after NFL says he pretended to chug beer on field” — NBC News
Right
- Right-leaning outlets, including Townhall and The Daily Wire, called the fine absurd and hypocritical.
- The Western Journal questioned whether the celebration depicted beer or juice.
- TheBlaze and The Daily Wire suggested subsequent events undermined the NFL's justification for the fine.
- The Daily Caller framed the punishment as 'completely ridiculous.'
“49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk Slapped With Completely Ridiculous Fine For Allegedly Imitating ‘Chugging A Beer’” — The Daily Caller
Questions readers ask
What happened to Kyle Juszczyk?
San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was fined nearly $15,000 by the NFL after a touchdown celebration against the Miami Dolphins that the league said resembled chugging a beverage, according to NBC News.
Why did the NFL fine him?
The NFL said the celebration was 'an offensive demonstration' that 'could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,' according to TheBlaze.
Was it beer or juice?
The Western Journal raised the question of whether Juszczyk's gesture depicted beer or juice, while other outlets referred to it as a beer-chugging imitation.
How did left- and right-leaning outlets differ in their coverage?
Left-leaning coverage, represented by NBC News, reported the fine amount and basic facts, while right-leaning outlets focused heavily on criticizing the NFL, calling the punishment hypocritical and excessive.
Were other players fined too?
According to TheBlaze, multiple NFL players were fined the same week for celebrations the league deemed to be in poor taste, though the supplied material did not name them.
Sources · 6 outlet reports
- NBC NewsLeft-leaning49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk fined nearly $15K after NFL says he pretended to chug beer on field
- The Daily CallerRight-leaning49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk Slapped With Completely Ridiculous Fine For Allegedly Imitating ‘Chugging A Beer’
- The Daily WireRight-leaningThe NFL Just Made An Example Of ‘Juice,’ And The Hypocrisy Is Rich
- The Western JournalRight-leaningIs It Juice or Beer? NFL Under Fire for Fining Star Player Over Drinking Celebration
- TheBlazeRight-leaningNFL fines player for 'beer' chug celebration — but what happened right after proves the league's hypocrisy
- TownhallRight-leaningThe NFL Is Really Issuing Fines for This Touchdown Celebration. It's Absurd.