San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk did not send the NFL a refund request. Instead, he left a taped jug on his locker shelf that read “Not Beer” and let the league stare at the label.
The 10-time Pro Bowler was fined for his celebration after a six-yard touchdown catch from Brock Purdy late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Officials let the celebration go on the field, but the league later called the gesture an “imitation of chugging a beer,” an “offensive demonstration” that “could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
Juszczyk said the motion is an old nod to his nickname.
“I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” he told reporters on Thursday. “My nickname is ‘Juice.’ I have ‘Juice’ on my pads, the stadium yells ‘Juice’ when I catch the ball; when I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice.”
Head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered the news, and Juszczyk first thought it was a joke. He later texted ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “I don’t even drink beer,” adding that he drinks only a handful of times a year in the offseason, usually after teammate George Kittle pressures him.
Kittle joked about a petition to change the nickname to “Beer.” Quarterback Brock Purdy said he has seen the celebration for years and was confused by the punishment.
Juszczyk has appealed. A hearing covering this fine and a $20,033 Week 1 unnecessary roughness penalty against the Los Angeles Rams is set for Tuesday.
