The National Football League (NFL) has decided not to impose fines on the Dallas Cowboys for their recent unorthodox touchdown celebrations during a Thanksgiving Day game. The incident in question unfolded during the team's dominant 45-10 win over the Washington Commanders on November 23, where players indulged in an impromptu turkey feast.
As the match neared its conclusion, Cowboys players were seen sprinting towards the Salvation Army kettles located at the end zones after scoring a touchdown. They retrieved foil-wrapped turkey legs they had previously stashed and proceeded to enjoy them on the field. This celebration, which took place with just five minutes left on the game clock, caught the attention of fans and commentators alike.
Typically, the Thanksgiving game tradition involves the winning team eating turkey legs on national television post-game. However, this time, the Cowboys decided to partake in the festivities before the final whistle. CBS analyst and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo remarked it was the first instance he'd witnessed such premature celebrations. Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson revealed that the Cowboys' decision to carry out the celebration was made at the onset of the fourth quarter, adding an extra layer of excitement as the team scored another touchdown, sealing their victory.
The orchestrators behind this unique celebration included quarterback Dak Prescott, head coach Mike McCarthy, and team owner Jerry Jones. Prescott was later seen savoring a turkey leg on the sidelines, while an amused McCarthy looked on.
A Surprising Leniency
The NFL's decision to refrain from fining the Cowboys came as a shock to many, given the league's historical penchant for penalizing teams for elaborate or unauthorized post-touchdown celebrations. Often referred to as the "No Fun League," the NFL has chosen to treat this particular incident as an exception to its usually stringent rules.
This lenient stance is particularly unexpected because the Cowboys have faced fines for similar actions in the past. In 2016, Ezekiel Elliott, the team's former running back, jumped into the kettle but wasn't fined. Contrastingly, in 2018, he received a $13,369 fine for repeating the act. Additionally, both Elliott and Prescott were fined $13,261 each for unsportsmanlike conduct when they used the Salvation Army kettle as a prop in a celebration against the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
In that same game, four Cowboys tight ends were fined a collective total of $27,094 for simulating a game of Whac-A-Mole around the kettle following a touchdown. These precedents highlight the NFL's typically strict enforcement of celebration regulations.
The league has also been consistent in its approach to other teams and players. For example, in Week 9 of the 2018 season, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas emulated a famous celebration by Joe Horn from 2003. After scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams, Thomas retrieved a hidden flip phone from under the goalpost and pretended to make a call. While the crowd celebrated the homage, Thomas was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and later received a hefty fine.
Despite these examples, the NFL has shown some inconsistency in its disciplinary actions. This inconsistency was brought to light recently on social media following an incident involving Tyreek Hill. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver's videographer was banned for the entire season after supplying Hill with a phone to record a backflip celebration, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the league's rulings.
In conclusion, while the NFL has a history of enforcing strict rules on post-touchdown celebrations, the decision to not fine the Dallas Cowboys for their Thanksgiving antics suggests a possible softening of their stance, or at the very least, an acknowledgment of the festive spirit. Whether this indicates a shift in policy or a one-off exception remains to be seen, but for now, the Cowboys can bask in the glory of their victory without the burden of additional fines.