Denver Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach went viral during a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 after he dropped back in coverage, broke up a pass and celebrated by pretending to strap on a seatbelt.
The NFL mistook that celebration for a gun reference — something the league has been cracking down on — and Roach was fined $14,069 for a “violent gesture.” The lineman is now appealing the fine.
“Roach raised his shirt to show his seatbelt was locked and the NFL thought he was making a gesture of showing a gun,” Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reported on Monday.
This is now my favorite GIF pic.twitter.com/XUU2haRuMi
— LTB Podcast (@LTB_Muse) October 18, 2024
Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace was also fined $7,181 for a hip-drop tackle against the Saints.
Roach ($25,324), safety P.J. Locke ($27,944), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers ($14,069), safety Brandon Jones ($11,255), outside linebacker Nik Bonitto ($8,791), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653) and center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872) have received fines from the NFL this season.
The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.
