The NFL has penalized two Cleveland Browns players for a touchdown celebration involving imaginary smoking during a recent victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.. Deshaun Watson and Austin Barber were fined thousands of dollars for the gesture following a score by teammate Quinshon Judkins.
The $21,341 price tag for a fake cigarette
The financial penalties for the Cleveland Browns' end-zone antics were significant, totaling over $21,000. According to the report, quarterback Deshaun Watson was fined $14,397, while guard Austin Barber was charged $6,944 for participating in the "invisible blunt" celebration. The incident occurred in the second quarter after running back Quinshon Judkins scored a touchdown.
These fines highlight the NFL's continued willingness to police player conduct, even when the "props" used in celebrations are entirely imaginary. While the players were simply mimicking the act of smoking, the league viewed the gesture as a violation of its celebration guidelines, resulting in a heavy financial hit for Watson and Barber.
Why Kyle Juszczyk's imaginary drink was permitted
The penalties against the Cleveland Browns stand in stark contrast to recent league decisions regarding other imaginary props. As the report says, the NFL recently rescinded fines previously levied against San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson for pretending to chug a drink. This reversal came after the league held meetings with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to clarify the boundaries of acceptable celebrations.
The specific case of Kyle Juszczyk involved a signature "chug" reaction after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on September 20, 2026,at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. the fact that the NFLPA successfully fought those fines suggests a growing divide in how the league views different types of simulated behavior—specifically , that imaginary drinking is more acceptable than imaginary smoking.
A victory over the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers' final Thursday
Despite the disciplinary distractions, the Cleveland Browns secured a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers via a late field goal. This victory marked the third consecutive win for the Cleveland Browns and served as a spoiler for Aaron Rodgers, as the game functioned as his Thursday night finale.
The contrast between the on-field success and the off-field fines creates a strange narrative for the Cleveland Browns. While the team is finding momentum in the standings, its players are finding that the NFL's disciplinary arm remains active and unpredictable, regardless of the game's outcome.
The NFLPA's struggle to define "murky" celebration rules
The discrepancy between the Watson fine and the Juszczyk rescission leaves several critical questions unanswered. It remains unclear whether the NFL is specifically targeting drug-related imagery—such as the "doob" mentioned in the report—or if the rules are simply being applied inconsistently. If a player were to simulate both drinking a scotch and smoking a cigar simultaneously, it is unknown if the "drinking" element would mitigate the "smoking" penalty.
Furthermore, the source indicates that the league's guidelines remain unclear to the players themselves. Until the NFL provides a concrete list of banned imaginary gestures, athletes like Deshaun Watson and Austin Barber will continue to risk thousands of dollars on creative celebrations that the league may deem inappropriate after the fact.
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