NFL fines Browns players, including Deshaun Watson, over smoking celebration
The NFL fined Cleveland Browns players, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, for a smoking-gesture touchdown celebration in the win over Pittsburgh. Reports differ on Watson's fine amount.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1The NFL fined four Cleveland Browns players after their 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, ahead of the Browns' Sunday 11 October game at the New York Jets. NewsweekN “Cleveland pulled off a 27-24 win earlier this month behind Watson”“On Sunday, Oct. 11, they visit the 1-3 New York Jets” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Three of the fines were for a smoking-gesture celebration. Newsweek cited NFL insider Tom Pelissero as saying the gesture came after Watson threw a touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins. NewsweekN “a "smoking gesture" was the specific type of celebration after Watson threw the touchdown to Judkins in the win” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Fox News (OutKick) said Judkins scored in the second quarter and that Judkins and Watson were each fined $14,397. Newsweek reported that the NFL reportedly fined Watson $14,926 and Judkins $14,397, citing unsportsmanlike conduct for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts. The two outlets therefore disagree on Watson's amount. Fox NewsR “Judkins and QB Deshaun Watson had been fined a cool $14,397” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “the NFL reportedly issued Watson a $14,926 fine and Judkins a $14,397 fine” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets reported that guard Austin Barber was fined $6,944 for a smoking gesture. NewsweekN “Austin Barber was also hit with a $6,944 fine for a smoking gesture” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “guard Austin Barber, who also snuck a hit off of the invisible blunt, had to pony up $6,944” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek said the fourth player, Adin Huntington, was fined $5,620 for a hip-drop tackle in his sack of Aaron Rodgers. NewsweekN “Huntington received a $5,620 fine for a hip-drop tackle he used to sack Rodgers” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Newsweek noted that Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was fined nearly $60,000 earlier this season for pretending to smoke a cigarette against the Buffalo Bills. Fox News said the league had rescinded fines on 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson for pretending to drink. It said that after meeting with the NFLPA, the league decided drinking celebrations were acceptable but smoking ones were still barred. NewsweekN “Amon-Ra St. Brown received nearly $60,000 in NFL fines for a celebration in which he pretended to smoke a cigarette” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “After meeting with the NFLPA, the league decided that drinking celebrations were okay, but obviously, smoking celebrations are still verboten.” Read at Fox News ↗
Centre · 1The win improved the Browns, led by first-season head coach Todd Monken, to 3-1 and tied them with the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC North, according to Newsweek. NewsweekN “improved the Browns to 3-1 and helped them take over the top spot in the AFC North division, tied with the Baltimore Ravens” Read at Newsweek ↗
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.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight sports report on the fines in the context of Cleveland's early-season success and the upcoming Jets game.
- Emphasis
- All four fines, including Huntington's hip-drop tackle, plus standings and the St. Brown precedent.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the league's rescinded drinking-celebration fines.
- For example
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“some of that celebrating has proven costly, as multiple Browns players have received NFL punishment” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Humorous OutKick column mocking the NFL's celebration rules, with fines as the hook.
- Emphasis
- The inconsistency between drinking and smoking celebration rules; the rescinded Juszczyk and Ferguson fines.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Huntington's fine or the $14,926 figure for Watson.
- Charged language
- “puff-puff-pass a doob”“Reefer Madness”“verboten”
- For example
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“you can't pretend to puff-puff-pass a doob in the end zone. Sorry, I don't make those rules.” — Fox News
What every side reports
- Browns players were fined after the win over the Steelers for smoking-gesture celebrations.
- Quinshon Judkins was fined $14,397.
- Austin Barber was fined $6,944 for a smoking gesture.
Where accounts differ
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Amount of Deshaun Watson's fine
- Centre
- Newsweek: reportedly $14,926, versus $14,397 for Judkins.
- Right
- Fox News: Watson and Judkins each fined $14,397.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Deshaun Watson Among 4 Browns Receiving NFL Punishment Before Jets Game
Neutral Factual report listing the fines and the Browns' season context.
Right1 article
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Browns players hit with fines for pretending to smoke after scoring a touchdown
Dismissive Jokey opinion-style piece poking fun at the NFL's murky celebration guidelines.
- 11 Oct 00:25 First NewsweekN Deshaun Watson Among 4 Browns Receiving NFL Punishment Before Jets Game
- 11 Oct 02:59 +2h 34m Fox NewsR Browns players hit with fines for pretending to smoke after scoring a touchdown
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.