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The Buccaneers running back Buck Irving has been one of the latest victims of the NFL’s league-wide crackdown on celebrations. The Bucs star was hit with a fine for a “nose-wiping” celebration against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13, which was considered a “violent gesture” by the league. Surprisingly, ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Irving was involved in a special religious ceremony, which has been construed as his way of seeking forgiveness for his mistakes.

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In a video originally shared by his teammate, star linebacker Lavonte David, Buck Irving was seen getting baptized on Sunday morning.

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As Buck Irving stood on stage during his baptism, he described the moment as something entirely different from what he had imagined.

“I feel like I had a rock bottom moment about two months ago, and God is the only person that I found,” Bucky told the crowd.

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The timeline lines up with Irving’s comments as the star running back has dealt with critical foot and shoulder injuries in Week 4. Since then, he was spotted wearing a walking boot that week and hadn’t practiced since. Irving eventually returned to practice in Week 11 before the game against the Buffalo Bills, but wasn’t part of the starting lineup until the game against the Cardinals.

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On his return against Arizona, Buck Irving had a solid performance, rushing for 61 yards on 17 carries and scoring a touchdown, which he celebrated, leading to his eventual fine.

How much did the NFL fine Buck Irving for his celebration?

Against the Arizona Cardinals, QB 1 Baker Mayfield completed a handoff to Buck Irving at the 15-yard line with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter. As Irving completed the touchdown, the two of them celebrated as the Bucs were 17-3 ahead.

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The gesture in question occurred from both players at the very end of their touchdown celebration, where they looked to “wipe their nose.” This gesture has been popularized in rap music culture and relates to wiping an opponent’s nose, or to take them out. As a result, the NFL has classified it as a “violent gesture.” Mayfield and Irving were not penalized on the play, but the NFL fined both players after the game.

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Irving was fined $6,349 for the celebration, whereas Mayfield was hit with a $14,191 fine. This difference in penalties is based on the percentage of each player’s contract, which is why Mayfield’s penalty was higher. This has been a recent trend in the league as, in total, the NFL has issued 29 fines stemming from Week 13.

With players across the league bringing out new celebrations every other week, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the next one to face the wrath of the league.

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Abhishek Sachin Sandikar

812 Articles

Abhishek Sandikar is an NFL Writer at EssentiallySports, where he covers the league's daily news cycle with a focus on what happens off the field as much as on it. His reporting centers on breaking roster and front-office moves, player controversies and off-field legal news, and the business and media side of the league. He also has a strong feel for the human side of the sport, covering the tributes, setbacks, and locker-room moments that shape an NFL season. Abhishek brings an editor's background to that work. He previously served as the NFL Editor at EssentiallySports, where he led the desk's football coverage and shaped how stories were reported and framed. That experience informs his own bylines, which pair sharp news judgment with clear structure. He is a Journalism graduate from Christ University and holds a postgraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of London. Known for fast, accurate reporting and clean storytelling, Abhishek turns each day's developments into clear stories that keep fans up to speed across the league.

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