It took nearly two weeks and a meeting of the minds from the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA), but after all that high-priced talent hashed things out, we've come to a conclusion that will affect humanity.
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that → take → humanity
NFL players are allowed to celebrate big plays by simulating drinking.
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players → allow → drinking
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page → contain → partners
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News → sign → wager
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that → create → newsroom
It no longer matters what's on a player's mind when he mimics drinking during a celebration.
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he → matter → celebration
He might be thinking about sipping tea, as Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor apparently was after scoring a touchdown on Sunday in London.
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Taylor → think → London
He might be thinking about drinking juice, as Kyle Juszczyk insisted he was doing when he was fined after Week 2.
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he → think → Week
The player might be mimicking taking a drink from a Gatorade bottle as Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson claimed he was doing when he was fined.
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he → mimic → bottle
And even this: The player could even be thinking he's shotgunning a beer.
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he → think → beer
It's fine now rather than headed for a fine.
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It → head → fine
That's because the path is now clear on all drinking, sipping, chugging and shotgunning beverages in the NFL.
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path → chug → NFL
In a joint statement issued by the league and the NFLPA on Wednesday, it was explained that celebrations including "imitating drinking a beverage" will not be considered a violation.
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celebrations → issue → beverage
"Football is the greatest game in the world," the NFL and the NFLPA said in a statement released jointly.
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NFL → say → statement
"NFL players are admired by millions of fans, including young people competing at every level of the sport.
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players → admire → sport
"The passion emotion, and personality players bring to the field are a big part of what makes the game special and connects them with fans worldwide.
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game → bring → fans
"To clarify the line between player expression and conduct that may result in discipline, players were reminded this week that the following are prohibited and may result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, a fine, or both:
- "Gestures that depict violence, including the use of guns or other weapons, or gang-related signs.
- "Gestures that depict smoking or drug use.
- "Gestures that are sexual in nature.
"
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that → clarify → nature
Conversely, recent celebrations imitating drinking a beverage will not be considered violations or result in discipline.
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celebrations → imitate → discipline
The league-wide guidance provides players with greater clarity on how they can celebrate while remaining within the rules.
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they → provide → rules
"When conduct falls into a gray area, the league will contact the player and provide direction before imposing discipline.
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league → fall → discipline
The player will be advised that continued use of the identified celebration may result in future fines.
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use → advise → fines
"Individual and team celebrations are part of the game and help players connect with fans.
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players → help → fans
Providing clear, consistent guidance allows players to express themselves while upholding the principles of sportsmanship that have long been a hallmark of NFL football.
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that → provide → football
This is a pendulum that seemed to swing so violently against any sort of beverage celebration two weeks ago, flying all the way back in the other direction and then some.
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that → seem → direction
So much so that, as the memo states, the NFL is adopting a new approach to what it does when a player seemingly crosses a line during a celebration.
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player → state → celebration
The league will communicate with the player first.
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league → communicate → player
If the NFL decides that the celebration will not be allowed, the player will be fined only if he continues the same celebration afterward.
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he → decide → celebration
"We raised this issue and pushed for greater clarity around what will and won’t result in discipline," NFLPA executive director JC Tretter posted on X. "When something falls into a gray area, communication and education should come before punishment.
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communication → raise → punishment
We’re glad the league will seek to educate players before immediately defaulting to a fine.
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league → ’re → fine
It is not known to what extent the backlash to the rash of fines and the league's marketing and sponsorship agreement with Bud Light played a role in it backtracking on Wednesday.
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it → know → Wednesday
The NFL did, for example, rescind the fines previously levied on Ferguson and Juszczyk.
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NFL → rescind → Ferguson
And Taylor will not be fined.
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Taylor → fin → ?
They'll all drink to that.
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They → drink → that
The Aporia
