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Colts RG Matt Goncalves won't pay fine after NFL, NFLPA rule drinking celebrations OK
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- Colts RG Matt Goncalves won't pay fine after NFL, NFLPA rule drinking celebrations OK
INDIANAPOLIS — From the sounds of it, the NFL and the NFL Player's Association have come to an agreement that effectively rescinds the $8,847 fine issued to Colts right guard Matt Goncalves for pretending to take a swig of the football after Tyler Warren's touchdown against Kansas City.
The NFLPA released a joint statement with the NFL on Wednesday that clarified the types of prohibited celebrations that could result in a fine: gestures that depict violence, smoking or drug use and gestures that are sexual in nature.
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Notably, drinking was not one of the prohibited gestures, and another portion of the statement appears to rescind Goncalves' fine.
"Conversely, recent celebrations imitating drinking a beverage will not be considered violations or result in discipline," the statement read.
When Goncalves spoke to reporters on Wednesday, he hadn't been through his appeal.
"I haven't heard anything yet," Goncalves said. "I'm not really too sure. It is what it is on their behalf, and we'll see."
But the writing was on the wall that Goncalves would not be facing a lighter game check any time soon.
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The NFL has reportedly rescinded a $14,926 fine to San Francisco fullback Kyle Jusczyk for pantomiming a chug of the football, a familiar celebration that Jusczyk told reporters was his long-standing reference to his nickname, Juice. The NFL also reportedly rescinded a $13,611 fine to Dallas tight end Jake Ferguson for supposedly "shotgunning a beer," a move that Ferguson said was a Gatorade celebration.
The league's explanation for the fines to all three was that it could be considered offensive.
An odd decision, given that the NFL hasn't taken issue with those touchdown celebrations before. The Colts ' celebration, like the ones by Jusczyk and Ferguson, has been running for two years, although Goncalves was doing the move for the first time.
Warren has performed the same move several times since entering the league in 2025, and in 2019, the Colts did a keg stand celebration with left guard Quenton Nelson. Both of those moves drew plenty of applause and celebration from the fans.
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Like the other players who were fined, Goncalves has an explanation at hand for what he was drinking out of the football.
"I like to think it's an ice-cold Coca-Cola," Goncalves said.
From now on, it doesn't seem like it matters what Warren, Goncalves or any other Colt is drinking after a score.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts RG Matt Goncalves won't pay fine after NFL, NFLPA rule drinking celebrations OK
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