DETROIT, Mich. — Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams won both of his appeals Tuesday, Oct. 13, and the NFL rescinded the two fines he drew for celebrations during the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The league took back fines of $14,926 and $11,941. In one appeal, Williams denied that his brief gesture was offensive and argued that marijuana is legal in some states if that was the gesture he was making. The other fine was for a separate act the league had labeled vulgar.
NFL appeals officer Derrick Brooks, a Hall of Fame linebacker, rescinded the fine but urged Williams to celebrate with his teammates in the best professional manner possible.
Several Lions players mimicked a smoking motion in that game, and the league also fined Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jahmyr Gibbs. It is not yet clear whether any of the others won appeals. Williams had two catches for 33 yards in the game.
The league tried this offseason to cut down on celebrations that reference drugs or alcohol. Fines for San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Dallas tight end Jake Ferguson for chugging celebrations were also rescinded.
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