When the San Francisco 49ers fullback was approached by Kyle Shanahan at practice this week and informed he had been fined by the NFL for pretending to drink a beverage during the Niners’ game against the Dolphins this past Sunday, he figured it was all a joke.
asserted
it → approach → Dolphins
“I thought maybe he was just messing with me,” Juszczyk said on Thursday.
asserted
Juszczyk → think → Thursday
The 10-time Pro Bowler, however, quickly found out it was real.
asserted
it → find → ?
The league did indeed dock Juszczyk $14,926 for “engaging in an offensive demonstration” by imitating “chugging a beer” in the team’s contest vs. Miami, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and Juszczyk said he was floored when the league’s notice officially hit his inbox this week.
uncertain
notice → dock → inbox
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asserted
Sign → sign → California
“I don’t know how else to say it, I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” the 35-year-old said.
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old → know → celebration
“I think you guys all know my nickname is ‘Juice.’
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nickname → think → ?
I have ‘Juice’ on my pads, the stadium yells ‘Juice’ when I catch the ball; when I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice.
asserted
I → have → juice
“So, I was surprised as anybody when I got fined this past week.”
asserted
I → fin → anybody
First, it was Juszczyk and his wife who publicly pushed back against the league’s penalty by going on social media to show the drinking celebration had been a part of the 49ers player’s repertoire for years.
asserted
celebration → push → years
Then it was Juszczyk’s good friend and teammate George Kittle who went to bat for the fullback on X.
“Can confirm he doesn’t really drink beer but is a good guy,” Kittle wrote.
asserted
Kittle → go → beer
Hours later, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase — who was also fined for demonstratively moving his elbow in a game against the Texans on Sunday — chimed in on the issue and expressed discontent with the league and the NFL Players Association for the ordeal.
asserted
who → fin → ordeal
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“I think this is where the superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money,” Chase said.
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Chase → download → money
“If he’s getting fined for doing a drinking juice gesture, then I’m getting fined for an elbow and doing the first down thing, I mean, I can’t really do much about it.”
asserted
I → fin → it
Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt also publicly disagreed with the league’s decision, writing on his social media page, “For a guy whose nickname is Juice, could it not be ‘reasonably construed’ that he is drinking…
uncertain
he → disagree → guy
Juszczyk, who was also fined $20,033 for an illegal helmet block in Week 1, said he is planning to appeal the fines at a hearing next week.
asserted
he → fin → hearing
“I don’t even drink beer,” Juszczyk said.
asserted
Juszczyk → drink → beer
“I maybe drink like five times a year in the offseason.
asserted
I → drink → offseason
And it’s usually with George because he pressures me.
asserted
he → ’ → me
So that’s a whole ‘nother side to me.”
asserted
that → ’ → me
As he awaits the sitdown with league officials, Juszczyk seems content to make light of the situation.
asserted
Juszczyk → await → situation
Juszczyk wrapped a water bottle in tape and wrote “Not Beer” on it before his Thursday meeting with reporters.
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Juszczyk → wrap → reporters
Kittle, meanwhile, joked he’s going to try start calling his pal a new name going forward.
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he → joke → pal
“I think we’re going to sign a petition to Juice’s new nickname is Beer now,” the tight end said.
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end → think → petition
“So, that’s his new thing.”
asserted
that → ’ → ?
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