Reiss: Watson fined $10K

[Tunescribe]

Getting fined for what he did is hard to understand; the flag shoud suffice. But $10k is preposterous.

 

[Jackson 2]

For tucking the ball under his shirt????? Granted, he should have known it would draw a penalty, but a 10K fine??? With all of the crap that goes on from week-to-week in this league which results in no disciplinary action, this is pretty hard to understand. More evidence that Goodell is in way, way, way over his head. I know, it's other people who mete out these fines, but I'm guessing they all have to get his approval before they're imposed.

 

[DefenseRules]

I'm not surprised, but it's ridiculous. I've seen worse. They might as well tell the players that all touchdown celebrations are prohibited.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

at the same time, they skipped fining cherilus for going after allen's knees.........

I believe goodell is just doing what he''s told............

 

[alamo]

I am surprised at the outrage. This rule against using props originated to combat the ridiculous preplanned stunts by Chad Johnson etc. (Cellphone in his sock?)

Do you all really mean to support such displays? If not, then how can you penalize them yet allow other players like Watson to do a similar thing? This looks like evenhanded enforcement to me. Blame Watson for not realizing the rules, or ignoring them.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I am surprised at the outrage. This rule against using props originated to combat the ridiculous preplanned stunts by Chad Johnson etc. (Cellphone in his sock?)

Do you all really mean to support such displays? If not, then how can you penalize them yet allow other players like Watson to do a similar thing? This looks like evenhanded enforcement to me. Blame Watson for not realizing the rules, or ignoring them.

he got penalized with a flag.

besides $10k to chad johnson or TO is nothing

 

[Krugman]

Watson gets 15 yard penalty and $10,000 fine. Ryan Clark just gets a 15 yard penalty. Are you kidding me?

My thoughts exactly.One guy makes a little harmless gesture to his pregnant wife,no offence to the other team implied in any way,the other tries to hurt a player that doesnt expect a hit and is defenceless(Heinz Ward prefers this type of contact also,its not so hard on the person delivering)ie,cowardly, its a wtf moment.Boy that Goodell is a genius....

 

[NJPatsfan26]

This is ridiculous.....Roger "Jets" Goodell is just looking for reasons to RUIN this league.

Way to go Roger....

 

[WhiZa]

I think we all agree on how ridiculous it is, but let's think of it this way...

He doesn't need to buy his wife a gift for Christmas this year

 

[denverpatsfan]

You can't use the ball as a prop. It's against the rules. There is a flag and probably a mandatory minimum fine for 1st offenders.

It's funny how people complain about this here but don't about all the ludicrous stuff in the real world. I got a fine because my dog was off leash. That is even more ridiculous. But if I made a stink about it I would be put in jail.

God Bless America.

 

[jman924]

I am surprised at the outrage. This rule against using props originated to combat the ridiculous preplanned stunts by Chad Johnson etc. (Cellphone in his sock?)

Oooh...close.
Joe Horn of the Saints hid a cellphone under both goalposts for a TD Celebration.
YouTube - Joe Horn touchdown celebration

49ers reciever T.O. had a pen in his sock to sign a football after a TD catch.
Top Five: Touchdown Celebrations of Terrell Owens All Talk Sports

 

[BSR]

The ball was used as a prop so I'm sure that is what they have their panties in a bunch over.

Except my first thought wouldn't have been that he was using it as a prop. He wasn't really celebrating. He stuck it under his shirt and then started to walk off the field. Of course there could have been something else I missed. That must be the case. From what I saw, he wasn't walking around like a pregnant woman rubbing his "pregnant" belly or anything. I guess I am just a bit suprised that they even thought it as a celebration. Not that I really care much, I just thought it was kind of ticky tacky when I saw it.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'd love for one of the trolls (not Gunner) from another team to come in here now and explain, in detail, how the league absolutely favors the Pats. This is pathetic. Ian, you should really make a website dedicated to getting Goodell out of office and then do a TON of advertising for it. I will chip in money as I'm sure many others here will. This guy has got to go.

 

[WhiskeyBreath]

Except my first thought wouldn't have been that he was using it as a prop. He wasn't really celebrating. He stuck it under his shirt and then started to walk off the field. Of course there could have been something else I missed. That must be the case. From what I saw, he wasn't walking around like a pregnant woman rubbing his "pregnant" belly or anything. I guess I am just a bit suprised that they even thought it as a celebration. Not that I really care much, I just thought it was kind of ticky tacky when I saw it.

He placed the ball under his jersey and patted his stomach. You know the NFL will fine that in a heartbeat.

 

[Koma]

You can't use the ball as a prop. It's against the rules. There is a flag and probably a mandatory minimum fine for 1st offenders.

It's funny how people complain about this here but don't about all the ludicrous stuff in the real world. I got a fine because my dog was off leash. That is even more ridiculous. But if I made a stink about it I would be put in jail.

God Bless America.

The bolded text sums up the situation nicely.

While I agree that the amount of the fine is ridiculous, the league has been pretty clear on this. I believe the NYG's Brandon Jacobs was penalized for doing something similar within the past 2 seasons.

 

[jbb9s]

When I saw the title of this thread, I figured Belichick had finally docked Watson for all the drops and fumbles over his 4 yrs as a Patriot.

 

[primetime]

I am surprised at the outrage. This rule against using props originated to combat the ridiculous preplanned stunts by Chad Johnson etc. (Cellphone in his sock?)

Do you all really mean to support such displays? If not, then how can you penalize them yet allow other players like Watson to do a similar thing? This looks like evenhanded enforcement to me. Blame Watson for not realizing the rules, or ignoring them.

Football is entertainment. I don't care if the guy pulls a gun out of his pants and shoots it in the air while dancing around, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone it's cool by me.

The cell phone thing by Joe Horn was great. This is a league that fines you if you're wearing the wrong color sock. It's ridiculous and draconian and moronic, and many other things besides.

 

[Michael]

I mentioned this a few weeks ago. When a player on another team picked the ball back up after scoring a TD and then spiked it hard into the round. An official was righ there and nothing. I have no problem with celebrating after a TD. But, the rulings on celebrations or "using it as a prop" are more inconsistent than holding and PI. Either have 0 tolerance for any celebration or taunting or get rid of the rule.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I mentioned this a few weeks ago. When a player on another team picked the ball back up after scoring a TD and then spiked it hard into the round. An official was righ there and nothing. I have no problem with celebrating after a TD. But, the rulings on celebrations or "using it as a prop" are more inconsistent than holding and PI. Either have 0 tolerance for any celebration or taunting or get rid of the rule.

Inconsistency defines this league ever since GODell rode into town

 

[apple strudel]

People think it's OK to fine a guy $10,000 when all he's doing is harmlessly celebrating the fact that he's going to be a father just because there's a rule about using the ball as a prop? Talk about the letter of the law vs. the spirit.

I hope I never work with or team with anybody who would willingly give up their rights and money just because of a rule. When will we stop allowing ourselves to be so willingly subjugated?

Rules like this one are for people who can't or don't want to think for themselves, and I have nothing but contempt for that.