After scoring a touchdown on Sunday against the Patriots, Bills receiver Stevie Johnson pulled up his jersey to reveal a T-shirt that said, “Happy New Year.”
Later this week, Johnson will be getting a communication from the league office lacking any such congeniality.
Apart from giving the Patriots 15 yards of field position, Johnson undoubtedly will be facing a significant fine for his third touchdown celebration violation in two seasons. Last year, Johnson was fined $5,000 for his handwritten “why so serious?” message on his undershirt. Earlier this season, Johnson drew a $10,000 fine for his Plaxico/Santonio homage, which included Johnson pretending to shoot himself in the leg and then falling to the ground after pretending to soar like a Jet.
The amount of the fine will be determined by Ray Anderson or Merton Hanks, with Johnson having appeal rights to Art Shell or Ted Cottrell. The league’s official guidelines specify no firm minimum or maximum amount for a third offense.
Instead of wishing the rest of us “Happy New Year,” Stevie should have made a New Year’s resolution to hand the ball back to the official after a touchdown.