Rico Dowdle woke up on November 5 to learn he had received a hefty fine courtesy of the NFL. The Carolina Panthers running back was fined for what the league deemed to be an excessive/suggestive celebration after one of his two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 16–13 upset of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Dowdle hit a two-pump pelvic-thrust right after he scored — a celebration that clearly a nod to the old “Key & Peele” sketch — and officials flagged Carolina 15 yards on the kickoff.
“The fine, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, was $14,491,” ESPN reported. “Dowdle’s agent, David Canter, announced on social media that the fine would be appealed.”
Dowdle took to social media to joke he’s going to get a GoFundMe page going to help pay for it.
More on Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle Getting Fined for His TD Celebration vs. Packers
GettyCarolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was fined for his TD celebration agains the Green Bay Packers.
The fine has to be annoying for Dowdle, but it almost makes his day more memorable. He was arguably the best player on the field in Green Bay, finishing with 25 carries for 130 yards and both Panthers touchdowns, including the score he celebrated a little too enthusiastically.
He also had the 19-yard rush on the final drive that put kicker Ryan Fitzgerald in position to walk it off from 49 yards as time expired. Carolina actually got out-gained 369–265 and still won because Dowdle kept putting them in good spots. That, and the Panthers’ defense kept Green Bay out of the end zone.
Dowdle has been going on a tear over the past month. Through nine games, he’s at 131 carries for 735 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, with four rushing touchdowns. After initially hoping for touches behind Chuba Hubbard, Dowdle is making a strong case for himself as a lead back.
Packers Have Huge Week 10 Showdown vs. Philadelphia Eagles Looming
Green Bay doesn’t have time to dwell on its latest loss. They went 1-for-5 in the red zone, missed two field goals and let a Panthers offensive line missing pieces run all over them. With the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles coming to Lambeau for a Monday Night showdown, the Packers cannot afford to have many — if any — mistakes.
Philly has a better running game, a stronger O-line and a deeper pass rush than Carolina has. If Jordan Love and the Packers stall out in the red zone again, the Eagles are far more likely to turn those same opportunities into touchdowns, not field goals.
“Win or lose, you’ve got to go back to the drawing board, and you’ve got to go back to work, and I know our guys are extremely disappointed,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after the loss to Carolina. “But all you can do is, you’d better be man enough to watch the tape, be critical and make any necessary adjustments that we need to make in order for us to become the team that we all want to become.”
We’ll know soon enough how well the Packers are preparing for the Eagles.
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