The fines keep piling up for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last week Chiefs tight end Peyton Hendershot, running back Isiah Pacheco and the Chiefs organization itself all received fines. This week linebacker Nick Bolton was hit with a fine, and now it’s rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s turn.
Worthy has been fined $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. The incident occurred early in the third quarter after he caught a swing pass out of the backfield for a gain of 12 yards and a first down. Worthy then pointed two fingers in the face of Bengals safety Vonn Bell gesturing as guns, which the league considers taunting.
Similarly, Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas was fined $5,305 for celebrating with a bow-and-arrow gesture. Many fans scoff at taunting penalties, citing that it’s all in good fun. Regardless of what your opinion on it is, the NFL has been pretty consistent in disciplining players for taunting.
The goal is to prevent tempers to flare and avoid possible fighting, which could lead to being ejected from the game and getting suspended. The league also is going to have zero tolerance when it comes to gesturing weapons. There are plenty of fun ways to celebrate big plays, so players just need to keep these few things in mind.
As for Worthy, it’s safe to assume he didn’t mean anything by what he did. He’ll learn from it and won’t likely make the mistake again. He’s going to be a vital piece of the Chiefs’ offense this season with fellow receiver Hollywood Brown as well as Pacheco being on injured reserve. Worthy has six touches for 90 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.
