Cincinnati Bengals players fined over celebration
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CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase confirmed Thursday the league fined him and teammate Tee Higgins for their new "people's elbow" celebration.
Chase insisted the "people's elbow" celebration, which involves grabbing his right elbow with his left hand and flopping the right arm forward, isn't the sort of off-color humor others have made it out to be on social media, and they are simply creating a new way to signal a first down.
The NFL disagreed and fined both receivers. The first offense for an unsportsmanlike conduct fine is $14,926 while taunting offenses are $11,941.
"We got fined for the people's elbow stuff," Chase said. "I would love to appeal it. It's something we made up, and then everybody else saying what it is. Everybody gonna have their own opinion of what it looked like."
Chase, who has been fined six times by the league for various infractions, said he hopes the latest punishments from the league spur action within the NFLPA.
Darnold thinking about playing
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is taking his recovery from a glute injury day by day, but said Thursday he hopes to return for Sunday's game at Washington.
Darnold practiced Wednesday for the first time since he was injured on the first series of the Seahawks' season-opening win over New England.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said a day earlier that Darnold had returned to practice but was not taking all of the first-team snaps. He said the Seahawks could determine by Friday whether to start Darnold or backup Drew Lock against the Commanders.
Darnold did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 regular-season games.
Chugging a bad idea
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk for what it deemed an "offensive" celebration similar to one he had been doing for several years with no issues.
Juszczyk was fined $14,926 after he imitated drinking a beverage following a catch in the third quarter of San Francisco's win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Juszczyk's nickname is "Juice" and he has been doing a version of that celebration throughout his career in response to 49ers fans chanting his nickname after catches or other big plays.
But the league told him the celebration was an imitation of drinking a beer and was worthy of a fine.
Football goes to Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO -- American football will make its debut in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday at a futebol cathedral.
The 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium is a revered soccer venue that has hosted two World Cup championship games, Olympic gold medal matches for men and women, and numerous clashes between South America's biggest teams. Now the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys will play the NFL's first game in Rio there, one of a record nine international contests on the league schedule this season.
Built for the 1950 World Cup, the Mário Filho Stadium in the northern end of the city is universally known as the Maracana due to the river that flows behind it. Locals have nicknamed it "the Maraca" and its current tenants are Brazilian soccer club giants Flamengo and Fluminense.
Both teams are 1-1 and it is the feature game on CBS with a 4:25 kickoff.
Murray returns at right time
TAMPA, Fla. -- Kyler Murray has the right opponent to get back on track after a concussion knocked him out of the season opener.
Murray will be under center when the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) on Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback faces a defense that made the Browns' Deshaun Watson look like an elite quarterback last week.
The Buccaneers haven't generated much pressure, can't tackle and routinely miss coverage assignments.
That kind of bodes well for Murray, who watched Carson Wentz fill in and lead Minnesota to two gritty wins. Wentz didn't turn the ball over and made enough plays, but he was sacked six times in the two games.