Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was fined for his actions during Sunday’s win over the Lions, but not for the actions that have drawn the most attention.
Bryant was fined $8,268 for taunting against the Lions. That fine does not come as a result of Bryant running onto the field to protest the pass interference flag against the Cowboys that was eventually -- and controversially -- picked up. Instead, the fine is for a different taunting infraction, when Bryant got in the face of Lions cornerback Darius Slay.
Bryant was flagged for the taunting of Slay, but the penalty wasn’t actually enforced. On the preceding play, Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray had scored a touchdown that was called back by a holding penalty on Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. When a player commits taunting after a touchdown but that touchdown is called back by a holding penalty, the taunting is automatically declined.
So in the NFL, it’s free to taunt an opponent after a called-back touchdown. At least, it’s free until the fine comes the next week.
