NFL rescinds $14,926 fine on 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk after beer-celebration appeal
The NFL has rescinded a $14,926 fine on 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, imposed for a celebration the league said imitated chugging beer. He appealed, saying he was drinking juice, a nod to his nickname.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The NFL has rescinded a $14,926 fine against San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a league spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday 7 October. NBC NewsLC “The NFL has rescinded the $14,926 fine it imposed on Juszczyk last month” Read at NBC News ↗ Fox NewsR “The league has informed Juszcyek that the $14,926 fine it imposed” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2The league had fined him for a celebration it said imitated chugging a beer. Its fine letter, first reported by ESPN, called this "an offensive demonstration" that "could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste", citing the rule on unsportsmanlike conduct (Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1). NBC NewsLC ““Your imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,”” Read at NBC News ↗ Fox NewsR “"an offensive demonstration" that could "reasonably be construed as being in poor taste."” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2Juszczyk appealed, arguing he was pretending to drink juice, which fits his nickname "Juice", and that he has done the celebration for years. Fox News, citing ESPN, reports that the NFL hearing officer accepted this explanation. NBC NewsLC “argued that he was actually pretending to drink his preferred beverage, namely juice, and that he’s been doing this kind of celebration for years” Read at NBC News ↗ Fox NewsR “the NFL hearing officer listened to the juice drinking explanation and, like any sane person, considered it justifiable” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Fox News reports that the appeal was heard by Zoom on Tuesday. It says Juszczyk also called the fine hypocritical given the number of Bud Light sponsorships around the NFL, a point NBC News does not mention. Fox NewsR “"Mr. Juszczyk finally stated that the fine is hypocritical with the amount of Bud Light sponsorships surrounding the NFL."” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2After the fine, Juszczyk posted "Can't make this stuff up" on X. He told reporters he wasn't drinking beer, that fans chant "Juice" when he catches the ball, and that he rarely drinks. He said that when coach Kyle Shanahan told him of the fine, he thought Shanahan "was just messing with me". NBC NewsLC ““Can’t make this stuff up,” Juszczyk posted on X.”“he thought Shanahan “was just messing with me.”” Read at NBC News ↗ Fox NewsR “"I don't even drink beer," Juszczyk added.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2The outlets give different details of the fine. NBC News says it was imposed on 23 September for a celebration during the 49ers' win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. Fox News gives the date as 24 September and does not name the game. NBC NewsLC “When the NFL hit Juszczyk with the fine on Sept. 23”“during his team’s victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 of the current season” Read at NBC News ↗ Fox NewsR “the $14,926 fine it imposed on Sept. 24” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Fox News adds that Juszczyk hurt his knee in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. An MRI showed a hyperextension and bone bruise, and Shanahan said he will miss "a few weeks". Fox NewsR “An MRI on Monday revealed Juszczyk suffered a hyperextension and bone bruise, and he will miss "a few weeks," coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A light, pun-filled sports item built on the league's confirmation that the fine was rescinded. NBC News leads with the juice wordplay and quotes the fine letter and Juszczyk's amused reaction.
- Emphasis
- The fine letter's wording, Juszczyk's X post and remarks to reporters, his age and career, and the O.J. Simpson nickname aside.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Bud Light hypocrisy argument, the Zoom hearing and Juszczyk's knee injury.
- Charged language
- “swallows”“serious juice”
- For example
-
“Star San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk appears to have some serious juice with the NFL.” — NBC News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- An opinionated column that treats the reversal as the league correcting an 'obvious misstep'. Fox News (OutKick) praises Juszczyk's defence and the hypocrisy point about Bud Light.
- Emphasis
- The Bud Light sponsorship argument, the Zoom appeal, and his knee injury. It also links to other critical NFL stories.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the game in which the celebration took place. Does not say that a league spokesperson confirmed the rescission.
- Charged language
- “like any sane person”“Ziiiing!”“obvious missteps”
What every side reports
- The NFL rescinded the $14,926 fine on Kyle Juszczyk.
- The fine was for a celebration the league said imitated drinking beer.
- Juszczyk says he was drinking juice, in reference to his nickname 'Juice'.
- ESPN first reported the fine.
Where accounts differ
-
Date of the fine and game involved
- Left
- NBC News says the fine was imposed on Sept. 23 over a celebration in the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins.
- Right
- Fox News says the fine was imposed on Sept. 24 and does not name the game.
-
Why the fine was dropped
- Left
- NBC News says the NFL backed off after Juszczyk argued he was drinking juice and had done the celebration for years.
- Right
- Fox News says the hearing officer accepted the juice explanation. It also quotes Juszczyk calling the fine hypocritical given Bud Light sponsorships, and says 'It worked'.
Kyle Juszczyk person
Says he was drinking juice, not beer, as a nod to his 'Juice' nickname, and that he has celebrated this way for years. He was surprised by the fine and, per Fox News, called it hypocritical given Bud Light sponsorships.
““I don’t know how else to say it: I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,”” — NBC News
“"Mr. Juszczyk finally stated that the fine is hypocritical with the amount of Bud Light sponsorships surrounding the NFL."” — Fox News
National Football League organisation
Fined Juszczyk for an 'offensive demonstration' in poor taste, then rescinded the fine on appeal. A league spokesperson confirmed this to NBC News.
“a league spokesperson confirmed Wednesday” — NBC News
“The league had originally called Juszczyk's celebration "an offensive demonstration"” — Fox News
San Francisco 49ers organisation
Coach Kyle Shanahan told Juszczyk about the fine, and per Fox News confirmed that the player will miss a few weeks with a knee injury. NBC News said it had asked the team for comment.
“NBC News has reached out to Juszczyk and the 49ers for comment” — NBC News
Left1 article
-
NFL swallows $15K fine against 49ers Kyle Juszczyk for pretending to chug beer on field
Mixed Playful, pun-heavy news report that stays factual and quotes the fine letter and the player.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk successfully appeals NFL beer fine by invoking his 'Juice' nickname
Celebratory Column presenting the reversal as common sense winning out, with emphasis on the Bud Light hypocrisy point.
- 7 Oct 15:59 First Fox NewsR 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk successfully appeals NFL beer fine by invoking his 'Juice' nickname
- 7 Oct 19:35 +3h 37m NBC NewsLC NFL swallows $15K fine against 49ers Kyle Juszczyk for pretending to chug beer on field
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.