Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews has been fined $11,025 for what the NFL deemed to be an obscene gesture, according to the Seattle Times.
Seahawks WR fined for phantom crotch grab
Fair or unfair, the NFL has come down hard on a wide receiver who was just promoted from the practice squad last month.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The gesture appeared to be a mere handshake after running back Marshawn Lynch scored a 24-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers.
Matthews, a special teamer, was not on the field during the play in question and instead came on to congratulate his teammate:
Lynch took exception to the NFL’s decision and fired back via Twitter:
I feel embarrassed to work for a particular organization that fined a teammate of mine for shaking my hand after a touchdown
— Shawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) January 23, 2015 For his part, Lynch received a $20,000 fine from the league for a similar gesture immediately after scoring.
But considering that Matthews was only promoted from the Seahawks’ practice squad on Dec. 6, the dollar amount is substantial given his salary. The second-year NFL player who spent a two-year stint in the CFL is performing under a two-year, $940,000 contract with a $420,000 base salary this season.
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