“It wouldn’t make sense to fine”: Allen Lazard on the possibility of being fined by the NFL for his gun-like motion celebration

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 3, 2024, 12:20 IST

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Jets receiver Allen Lazard faced a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after spinning the ball and is now anticipating a fine from the NFL for a gun-like gesture. Lazard criticizes the lack of prior warning and likens it to unfair rule implementation, expressing his intention to challenge any potential fine.

“It wouldn’t make sense to fine”: Allen Lazard on the possibility of being fined by the NFL for his gun-like motion celebration

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Allen Lazard, a Jets receiver, was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after making a 12-yard catch and spinning the ball. The flag changed to first-and-10 at the 33-yard line, and the Jets did not advance past the 22, settling for a 40-yard field goal. Lazard is ready to fight back against the NFL if he is fined. Lazard was a highly-rated recruit coming out of high school, where he was named a USA Today High School All-American.Lazard has been selected to the First-team All-Big 12 in both 2016 and 2017 and is Iowa State's career leader in both receptions and receiving yards.
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Allen Lazard is expecting to be fined by the NFL

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is expected to face a fine by the NFL for a gun-like gesture during a catch against Denver. “I’ve gotten zero clarification from the NFL,” Lazard said before Wednesday’s practice. “Now, my coaches have come up and talked to me individually. It’s very unfortunate that I’m the victim of the situation. But it is what it is. It’s part of the NFL, and a part of the entertainment factor.”

Lazard has not sought clarification from officials or the league, either from Jets coaches or the NFL Players Association. “If I am [fined], they are definitely going to exempt it,” Lazard said. “It wouldn’t make sense to fine someone for something you never warned them [about]. It’s like implementing a new driving rule: If you are driving down the street with only one hand, you never told me I can only drive with only two hands. That’s unfair. That’s not a lawful democracy in that sense.”

Lazard argues that while driving with one hand on the steering wheel is not illegal, it could potentially lead to a traffic stop for vehicle control failure. “It’s something very silly,” Lazard said. “I expect the NFL to fine me just from the history of situations like this.”
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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