WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Browns Players Fined for Pretending to Smoke After Touchdown
WHY IT MATTERS
The fines highlight the NFL’s strict enforcement of celebration rules and clarify the boundary between acceptable and prohibited on‑field antics, affecting player conduct and league image.
What happened
During a recent game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins scored a touchdown and, along with quarterback Deshaun Watson and guard Austin Barber, pretended to puff on imaginary cigarettes. The NFL fined Judkins and Watson $14,397 each and Barber $6,944 for violating the league’s celebration rules.
The league’s decision follows a recent reversal of fines imposed on 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson for pretending to drink an imaginary beverage, a move that clarified that drinking celebrations are permissible while smoking celebrations remain prohibited.
The fines underscore the NFL’s ongoing effort to enforce its evolving celebration policy.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Browns players hit with fines for pretending to smoke after scoring a touchdown
Fox News · Discovery only; publisher copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 11, 2026, 9:45 AM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 11, 2026, 9:45 AM