The National Football League (NFL) has opted not to impose a fine on the Dallas Cowboys for their unconventional Thanksgiving-themed touchdown celebrations. The incident in question unfolded during the final minutes of a dominant 45-10 win over the Washington Commanders on November 23, when Cowboys players indulged in turkey legs they had hidden inside Salvation Army kettles positioned near the end zones.
After a significant touchdown in the fourth quarter, with only five minutes left on the game clock, several players dashed to the kettle, retrieving foil-wrapped turkey legs they had stashed away. This celebration deviated from the norm, as it is customary for the winning team to partake in turkey legs after the conclusion of the game on national television. Commenting on the event, Sports Illustrated and CBS analyst Tony Romo, also a former quarterback for the Cowboys, remarked that it was unprecedented to witness such a celebration before the end of the game.
Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson revealed that the Cowboys decided to proceed with the celebration at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Encouraged by this pre-planned act, the Cowboys' offense scored another touchdown, further cementing their victory. Key figures such as quarterback Dak Prescott, head coach Mike McCarthy, and team owner Jerry Jones were all reportedly involved in the planning process. Prescott was later seen savoring a turkey leg on the sidelines while McCarthy appeared to be highly amused by the spectacle.
A Surprising Decision
The NFL's decision to refrain from fining the Cowboys came as a surprise to many, given the league's usually stringent policies against elaborate or unauthorized post-touchdown celebrations. The league, often humorously referred to as the "No Fun League," has chosen to treat this particular incident as an exception.
This leniency stands out especially because the Cowboys have been penalized for similar actions in the past. In 2016, Ezekiel Elliott, the team's former running back, escaped a fine for jumping into the kettle. However, he wasn't as fortunate in 2018 when he was fined $13,369 for repeating the same celebration. Similarly, in 2022, both Elliott and Prescott were fined $13,261 each for unsportsmanlike conduct after using the Salvation Army kettle as a prop during a touchdown celebration in a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In that same Thanksgiving Day game, four of the Cowboys' tight ends were collectively fined $27,094 for orchestrating a game of Whac-A-Mole around the kettle following a touchdown. These instances underscore the league's typically strict stance on celebrations that involve props or are deemed excessive.
Consistency in Question
The NFL's approach to disciplining players for their celebratory acts has been marked by inconsistency. This was highlighted in a recent social media critique following the disclosure that Tyreek Hill’s videographer received a season-long ban for providing the star Miami Dolphins wide receiver with a phone to record a backflip.
This is not the first time the NFL has dealt with controversies surrounding touchdown celebrations involving props. In Week 9 of the 2018 season, Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints replicated a famous celebration originally performed by Joe Horn in 2003. After scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams, Thomas retrieved a hidden flip phone from under the goalpost and mimicked making a call. While the act garnered him widespread attention and praise, it also resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a subsequent fine.
The NFL's inconsistent disciplinary actions raise questions about the criteria used to determine when and how to enforce penalties for celebrations. The lack of fines for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving antics could signal a shift in the league's attitude towards post-touchdown festivities, or it may simply be an outlier in an otherwise stringent policy framework.
As the NFL continues to navigate the balance between sportsmanship and entertainment, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how future celebrations are treated. For now, the Cowboys can enjoy their Thanksgiving triumph without any financial repercussions from the league, marking a rare moment of leniency in the NFL's history of regulating on-field celebrations.