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Amid the NFL’s crackdown on violent gestures, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive sort out Vita Vea appeared to mimic a sniper crawl after sacking Kirk Cousins in Thursday night time’s match up towards the Atlanta Falcons.
The incident befell within the fourth quarter on third and 5 with the Falcons within the crimson zone.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18, scrambles away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive sort out Vita Vea, #50, through the first half of an NFL soccer recreation on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 in Atlanta. (AP Photograph/Butch Dill)
Vea broke by means of the pack and sacked Cousins on the 28-yard line for a 9 yard loss.
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Instantly after the play, Vea crawled on the bottom earlier than celebrating with what seemed to be a gesture imitating a gun firing. The celebration didn’t draw any penalties, not like New York Jets broad receiver Allen Lazard, who obtained a expensive 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the same celebration on Sunday.
Lazard, 28, related with Aaron Rodgers on a 12-yard cross within the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The play would have resulted in a brand new set of downs, however whereas on the turf, he appeared to make a gun-like movement, leading to a penalty.
Lazard mentioned along with the penalty, he expects a wonderful from the NFL, however he defended his celebration on Wednesday.
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“It’s very unlucky that I’m the sufferer of this case, however it’s what it’s. It’s part of the NFL, and it is part of the leisure issue.”
He continued, “It is one thing very foolish.”
Allen Lazard, #10 of the New York Jets, celebrates a primary down towards the Denver Broncos through the third quarter however was penalized for the response at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 29, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Luke Hales/Getty Photographs)
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce seemingly agreed, saying throughout an episode of the “New Heights” podcast that the movement was “delicate” and could possibly be interpreted as pointing within the course of a primary down.
“If you wish to wonderful the man after the sport for doing it, no matter. That’s as much as the NFL for wanting to guard their league, however I feel it’s completely ridiculous {that a} man is on the bottom taking pictures pointing fingers for getting a primary down saying ‘We’re going that means’ or no matter he is likely to be doing – I simply assume it’s an excessive amount of, man. It’s an excessive amount of, and it is affecting the sport within the fallacious means.”
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A number of gamers have been fined for related celebrations this yr.
The NFL does have a coverage towards “violent gestures.” It falls underneath unsportsmanlike conduct and is described as “any violent gesture, or an act that’s sexually suggestive or offensive.”
Vita Vea, #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stands on the sidelines previous to an NFL preseason soccer recreation towards the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs)
If known as on the sphere, it leads to a 15-yard penalty and an computerized first down if dedicated by a defensive participant.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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