The National Football League (NFL) has chosen not to impose fines on the Dallas Cowboys for their recent Thanksgiving-themed touchdown celebrations, which have been deemed unconventional by many. The incident in question unfolded during a dominant 45-10 win over the Washington Commanders on November 23, where the Cowboys had cleverly hidden turkey legs inside Salvation Army kettles located near the end zones.
As the game neared its conclusion, following a significant fourth-quarter touchdown, players were seen dashing to the kettle to retrieve and enjoy the foil-wrapped turkey legs they had stashed earlier. This celebration took place with five minutes remaining on the clock, eliciting both amusement and surprise from fans and commentators alike.
This deviation from the norm—where the winning team traditionally savors a turkey leg on national television post-game—was a first, according to CBS analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson revealed that the Cowboys had made the decision to go through with this celebration plan at the start of the final quarter, a move that seemed to fuel the team's offense to score another touchdown and secure their victory.
Behind the Scenes
Key figures such as quarterback Dak Prescott, head coach Mike McCarthy, and team owner Jerry Jones were reportedly integral to the planning of this celebration. Prescott was later seen enjoying his turkey leg on the sidelines, while McCarthy appeared visibly entertained by the proceedings.
A Surprising Leniency
The NFL's decision not to fine the Cowboys came as a shock to many, given the league's history of strictly penalizing elaborate or unauthorized post-touchdown celebrations. Dubbed the 'No Fun League' by critics, the NFL has made an exception in this case, much to the relief of fans who have grown accustomed to seeing fines levied for similar antics.
The league's surprising leniency is underscored by past incidents where the Cowboys faced penalties for comparable actions. Notably, in 2016, Ezekiel Elliott avoided a fine for jumping into the kettle, but in 2018, he was fined $13,369 for repeating the act. Similarly, in 2022, both Elliott and Prescott were fined $13,261 each for using the Salvation Army kettle as a prop during a touchdown celebration against the Indianapolis Colts.
Moreover, during the same 2022 Thanksgiving Day game, four Cowboys tight ends incurred fines totaling $27,094 for orchestrating a Whac-A-Mole celebration around the kettle after a touchdown. These precedents make the NFL's current stance all the more unexpected.
Consistency in Question
The NFL's approach to disciplining players for celebration-related conduct has often been criticized for its inconsistency. A notable example from a previous season involved Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints. In Week 9 of the 2018 season, emulating a celebration originally performed by Joe Horn in 2003, Thomas scored a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams and proceeded to use a flip phone he had hidden under the goalpost.
While Thomas's act garnered widespread acclaim for its creativity, it also resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and was met with a hefty fine. Similarly, the league recently faced criticism on social media when it was revealed that Tyreek Hill's videographer received a season-long ban for providing the Miami Dolphins wide receiver with a phone to record a backflip.
The NFL's decision to forego fines for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving celebration marks a departure from its usual rigid enforcement of celebration protocols. Whether this indicates a shift towards a more lenient policy or simply a one-off gesture of goodwill remains to be seen. However, it certainly adds a layer of intrigue to the league's policies on player conduct and celebration moving forward.
In the meantime, the Cowboys' turkey leg celebration will stand as a memorable moment from the 2023 season, one that brought a touch of holiday spirit to the gridiron without the customary financial repercussions.