The NFL rescinded a fine against Kyle Juszczyk for his touchdown celebration involving mimicking drinking and allowed similar celebrations officially. Meanwhile, linebacker Dre Greenlaw was fined about $12,000 for confronting former coach Sean Payton on the field after a game. Cameras captured Greenlaw berating Payton multiple times during and after the match, which he confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle. The article highlights perceived inconsistencies in how the NFL enforces rules regarding player conduct.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kyle Juszczyk, a fullback for the San Francisco 49ers, successfully appealed an $14,926 fine imposed by the NFL on September 24th after mimicking drinking a beverage during a game against the Miami Dolphins. Initially, the league believed he was imitating drinking beer and deemed his celebration "an offensive demonstration," but Juszczyk argued that his nickname is "Juice" and he often celebrates by pretending to drink juice. The NFL hearing officer accepted this explanation and rescinded the fine, stating it wasn't about chugging a beer after all. This decision came shortly before Juszczyk suffered a knee sprain during a game against the Denver Broncos, which will sideline him for several weeks. Following Juszczyk's appeal, the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) met to clarify rules regarding celebratory drinking gestures, now allowing players to mimic any beverage without fear of fines.
Written for “NFL Beer Celebration Controversy” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Fortunately for Kyle Juszczyk’s bank account, common sense won out.
asserted
sense → win → account
The NFL rescinded his fine over his touchdown celebration and even took it one step further, officially permitting players to imitate drinking any beverage — juice or otherwise — in a joint statement with the NFLPA.
asserted
NFL → rescind → NFLPA
Dre Greenlaw, on the other hand, likely won’t have much of a case if he decides to appeal.
asserted
he → have → case
He clearly got his money’s worth for berating his former coach.
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He → get → coach
Fellow linebacker Fred Warner had to separate Greenlaw from confronting Sean Payton at midfield after the 49ers’ 24-14 win last Sunday.
asserted
Warner → have → win
An emotionally charged matchup for the former Bronco also featured multiple instances of Greenlaw jawing at the Denver sideline.
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Greenlaw → charge → sideline
Cameras from a local Denver television station captured the postgame exchange, which Greenlaw then confirmed the contents of to the San Francisco Chronicle.
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Greenlaw → capture → Chronicle
“I told him, ‘Get the f–k off the field,” Greenlaw said.
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Greenlaw → tell → field
“That’s it.”
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That → ’ → ?
That wasn’t all Greenlaw said throughout the game, though.
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Greenlaw → say → game
He gave Payton an earful just about any time he got within shouting distance — which was often while leading the defense with 12 tackles.
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which → give → tackles
He earned the right.
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He → earn → right
And he should have no regrets.
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he → have → regrets
All it costs is about the equivalent of a speeding ticket.
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it → cost → ticket
Who isn’t taking up that offer?
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Who → take → offer
Perhaps Greenlaw thought he would escape scot-free.
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he → think → ?
His immediate reaction on Instagram — “Damn fr? lmao” — would suggest some surprise.
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reaction → suggest → surprise
But he should happily eat the fine.
asserted
he → eat → fine
The way he played against the Broncos, Greenlaw might have just been willing to sacrifice all of the $13.5 million he earned from them for the eight games he played last season.
uncertain
he → play → games
On a $7.5 million salary this season, Greenlaw should hardly notice a hit of about $12,000.
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Greenlaw → notice → 12,000
For a worker earning $100,000 annually, an equal fine would be about $160.
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fine → earn → 100,000
It’s probably something you’ve done before, maybe even many times, without ever being penalized.
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you → ’ → ?
That’s bound to sting more, even if the money is the same.
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money → bind → ?
The more apt comparison, really, would be getting that ticket for violating a law that’s not even on the books.
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that → get → books
Or at least one of those archaic ordinances that lawmakers have never bothered repealing but don’t worry about enforcing, either.
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lawmakers → bother → that
At least until it’s convenient
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it → ’ → ?
“Juice” did more than just get justice.
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Juice → do → justice
His fine for the same celebration that he’s performed over and over again — and made sure to feature prominently last week — shed light on the absurdity of the NFL’s whole system.
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he → perform → system
The fine came from so far out of left field and was seemingly so carefully orchestrated with the league’s official beer sponsor that some inside the 49ers’ locker room wondered if it was all a marketing stunt for Bud Light from the beginning.
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it → come → beginning
Two other players were fined for drinking-related celebrations the same week as Juszczyk, and almost as soon as they came down, Bud Light had a post ready offering discounts to fans in the total amount of the fines.
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post → fin → fines
At worst, he was an unknowing pawn in a gimmick to get fans to drink more beer (something he rarely does himself).
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he → get → beer
Fortunately, the righteous side won out.
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side → win → ?
And changed the rulebook while they were at it.
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they → change → rulebook
“I guess I’ve got to start thinking about my celebrations for this week pertaining to drinks,” Warner smiled.
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Warner → guess → drinks
“It’s great for Juice because he’s been doing that same celebration for years.
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he → ’ → years
That’s what the league’s all about.”
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league → ’ → what
Well, it’s what the league is supposed to be about.
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league → ’ → what
The league can’t have its personnel going around confronting all of their former employers who left them a little disgruntled.
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who → have → them
But it also has a long way to go to shed its label as the “No Fun League,” as was evident in its response to Juszczyk’s celebration.
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it → have → celebration
At least it’s one step closer now.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
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