NFL rescinds celebration fines for Jameson Williams and Ja'Marr Chase on appeal
The NFL dropped fines against Lions receiver Jameson Williams and Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase for Week 2 celebrations after both appealed. Williams argued marijuana is legal in some states; Chase said the league assumed the worst of a new celebration.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1The NFL reversed two fines against Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams after he appealed, Newsweek reported. NewsweekN “Williams appealed each of these fines, and won both.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1The fines followed the Lions' Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills: $14,926 for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts, and $11,941 for taunting. NewsweekN “$14,926 for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts and $11,941 for taunting.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Williams argued that his "brief gesture" was not offensive, and that marijuana is legal in some states if that was the gesture he was making. NewsweekN “"marijuana is legal in some states if that was the gesture he was making.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “after the Detroit Lions wide receiver argued that "marijuana is legal."” Read at Fox News ↗
Mixed · 2NFL appeals officer Derrick Brooks, quoted via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, wrote: "Although I rescinded this fine, please make every effort to celebrate with your teammates in the best professional manner possible." NewsweekN ““Although I rescinded this fine, please make every effort to celebrate with your teammates in the best professional manner possible,” Brooks wrote” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “appeals officer Derrick Brooks wrote, according to the NFL Network.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Fox News' OutKick says Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs did the celebration together, and that each was fined $14,926 and $11,941. It says the teammates have yet to hear back on their appeals. Fox NewsR “Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs did the celebration together in a game against the Bills in Buffalo”“Williams' teammates have yet to hear back on their appeals.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Separately, the NFL announced on Tuesday that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase won appeals on two fines of $14,926 each for "obscene gestures" in a Week 2 game against the Houston Texans. NewsweekN “Chase won appeals on both fines, the NFL announced on Tuesday.”“two separate fines of $14,926 for "obscene gestures" during this year's Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1The celebration, shared with teammate Tee Higgins, is described as an interpretation of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "people's elbow" wrestling move. NewsweekN “which they say is an interpretation of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "people's elbow" wrestling move.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1According to the appeals office letter, Chase argued that the celebration is new and not offensive, that he had received no warning it was not allowed, and that the NFL was assuming the worst of him and Higgins without discussing it with the NFLPA. NewsweekN “Mr. Chase finally stated that the NFL is assuming the worst of him and his teammate without discussing with the NFLPA,"”“he received no warning that this was not allowed” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Higgins was fined three times at $14,926 for the same celebration, and Newsweek said there was no word yet on those fines. NewsweekN “no word on the three $14,926 fines levied against Higgins for the same celebration.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1Fox News said other celebration fines have been rescinded in recent weeks, including Kyle Juszczyk's drinking celebration after he said he was drinking juice, not beer. Fox NewsR “Several celebration fines have been rescinded in recent weeks, including Kyle Juszczyk's drinking celebration” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Fox News also noted that Williams has been fined nine times for gestures and taunts, totalling $140,686, and has been suspended twice, once for performance-enhancing substances and once for gambling violations. Fox NewsR “one for performance-enhancing substances, and another for gambling violations.”“Williams has been fined numerous times for specific gestures and taunts - nine times, to be exact. Those fines have cost him $140,686.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek added that Williams was fined $23,417 for unnecessary roughness after the Week 3 win over the Jets, a fine not reported as reversed. Both the Lions (3-2) and the Bengals are entering their Week 6 bye. NewsweekN “Williams was fined an additional $23,417 for unnecessary roughness, use of the helmet in a Week 3 win over the New York Jets.”“The 3-2 Lions are entering their Week 6 bye.” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “The Bengals are entering their Week 6 bye” 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
- Newsweek reports the reversals straightforwardly as appeal outcomes, relaying the appeals officer's statement and, for Chase, the contents of the appeals letter.
- Emphasis
- The fine amounts, the players' appeal arguments and the Week 2 context, plus the status of Higgins's fines and the Lions' and Bengals' records.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the teammates fined alongside Williams, other rescinded celebration fines, or Williams's disciplinary history.
- Charged language
- “Calls Out NFL Assumptions”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News' OutKick treats the Williams reversal as a light, culture-tinged story about the league "getting with the times" on marijuana, and adds context on rescinded fines and Williams's record.
- Emphasis
- Marijuana's legal status in Michigan, Buffalo and other states, the NFL's 2020 drop of suspensions for marijuana tests, the Juszczyk precedent, and Williams's fines and suspensions.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover Chase's appeals or the appeals officer's reasoning beyond the quoted note.
- Charged language
- “seemingly getting with the times”“apparent smoking celebration”
What every side reports
- The NFL rescinded Jameson Williams's celebration fines on appeal.
- Appeals officer Derrick Brooks urged players to celebrate in the best professional manner possible.
- Williams argued that marijuana is legal.
- Teammates fined for the same celebrations had not yet had their outcomes reported.
Where accounts differ
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What the celebration was
- Centre
- Newsweek says Williams argued his gesture was not offensive, and that marijuana is legal in some states 'if that was the gesture he was making'.
- Right
- Fox News calls it an 'apparent smoking celebration' and frames the reversal as the league acknowledging marijuana's legality.
Jameson Williams person
Williams appealed, arguing his brief gesture was not offensive and that marijuana is legal in some states.
“Williams argued that his "brief gesture" was not offensive” — Newsweek
Ja'Marr Chase person
Chase argued the celebration with Higgins is new and not offensive, that he had no warning, and that the NFL assumed the worst without consulting the NFLPA.
“He added that this is a new celebration with his teammate and that it is not offensive.” — Newsweek
NFL organisation
Through appeals officer Derrick Brooks, the NFL rescinded Williams's fines while asking players to celebrate in the best professional manner possible, and announced Chase's wins on appeal.
““Although I rescinded this fine, please make every effort to celebrate with your teammates in the best professional manner possible,”” — Newsweek
“Chase won appeals on both fines, the NFL announced on Tuesday.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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NFL Reverses Punishment Decision on Lions WR Jameson Williams
Neutral Plain report of Williams's two fines being rescinded, with the appeals officer's quote and game context.
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Ja'Marr Chase Calls Out NFL Assumptions in Successful Punishment Appeals
Neutral Reports Chase's successful appeals, centred on his arguments from the appeals letter, with a mild 'calls out' headline.
Right1 article
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NFL rescinds Jameson Williams' smoking celebration fine after he argues 'marijuana is legal'
Mixed Lighthearted take linking the rescinded fine to marijuana legality, with added background on Williams's fines and suspensions.
- 13 Oct 19:19 First NewsweekN NFL Reverses Punishment Decision on Lions WR Jameson Williams
- 13 Oct 19:22 +3m NewsweekN Ja'Marr Chase Calls Out NFL Assumptions in Successful Punishment Appeals
- 13 Oct 22:22 +3h 3m Fox NewsR NFL rescinds Jameson Williams' smoking celebration fine after he argues 'marijuana is legal'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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