The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had a smooth ride this season, but at 7–5, they at least steadied themselves last week with a 20–17 win over the Cardinals, snapping a three-game skid. Quarterback Baker Mayfield clearly enjoyed the moment. Maybe a little too much because his celebration did not come without a cost.

After the Bucs went up 17–3, Mayfield joined running back Bucky Irving in the end zone for a quick post-touchdown routine. At the tail end of it, both players made a gesture that looked like they were wiping their noses. The league didn’t see it as harmless showmanship but as a “violent gesture.” The fine landed this week: $14,491 for Mayfield.

The move has grown popular in certain corners of pop culture, but the league has decided it crosses a line. In its view, the gesture c

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