Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

The NFL fined Jamaal Williams for being too sensual and fans questioned the league’s priorities

Jamaal Williams NFL Quay Walker Lions Packers Tom Pelissero

The NFL’s standards regarding the safety of people and good old-fashioned fun in a game continue to amaze with its ridiculousness. Two crucial contrasting “incidents” highlighted these poor standards from the Detroit Lions’ humbling beatdown of the Green Bay Packers in Week 18.

First, you had the Lions’ Jamaal Williams, a guy who clearly enjoys his time as a pro athlete, suggestively thrusting his hips after scoring two crucial touchdowns — including the game-winner — in Detroit’s emphatic 20-16 Week 18 win. Then, there was the Packers’ Quay Walker inexplicably pushing a medical trainer who was simply trying to do their job and help someone.

On Saturday, the NFL announced fines for both players. Which, at first glance, without any context — really? Williams deserved fines for just enjoying himself and not hurting anyone? Eh, I don’t know about that one!

But then you see the amount Williams was fined — less than Walker, who, again, pushed a non-player — and you remember the pro football powers that be have terribly misplaced priorities:

I genuinely don’t understand why the league makes these sorts of decisions. Not to say I’m surprised, but it makes me furl an eyebrow at a league facilitating one of the most dangerous, violent sports around still wanting to project a “wholesome” image. And they punish anyone who even potentially detracts from that perception no rational person has of them!

As opposed to, you know, a player putting their hands on a person not even involved in a game. What are we doing here, folks? Let’s have a hearty reflection and take a step back.

NFL fans couldn't believe Williams' celebrations were fined more than Walker pushing an athletic trainer

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Squid Game creator says he changed the ending of the Netflix show halfway through: "This is not where the story should be headed"
He also explains why it has to end with season 3
Total Film
Total Film
The New 'Alien' TV Show Just Pulled a Clever Canon Trick
'Alien: Earth' is keeping the origin of the creatures familiar, allowing fans to focus on scares rather than math.
Inverse
Inverse
The Simpsons Hit & Run has quietly been the arena for an incredible 10-year speedrunning gauntlet, dominated by one runner who broke 45 records in a row
He's a lean, green speed-thingy
GamesRadar
GamesRadar
Squid Game season 2's star Lee Jung-jae says he felt "horror" stepping back into the arena on the Netflix show: "It's a kind of feeling that I would never forget in my life"
The actor says he had "mixed feelings" about returning
Total Film
Total Film
Squid Game creator addresses rumors of David Fincher's English-language Netflix spin-off, saying if it were to happen, he'd be excited to see it "as a fan"
Hwang Dong-hyuk hasn't heard anything official
Total Film
Total Film
“My solos are more like rolling scales than the call-and-response of blues riffs... I used to analyze the progression. If I didn’t like what was available, I’d play as weird as possible”: How Randy Rhoads reinvented classical guitar for metal
Applying classical training to the service of heavy metal, Rhoads was the generational guitar talent that helped launch Ozzy Osbourne's solo career
Guitar World
Guitar World
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play