Johnny Manziel’s Monday night middle finger didn’t go unnoticed — or unpunished — by the league office.
The NFL docked Manziel $12,000 for his gesture in the third quarter of Monday’s game at Washington, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday. The hand signal was caught by the ESPN cameras and went viral in a snap.
Manziel can appeal to have the fine reduced, as it is more than 25 percent of his weekly salary of $24,075.
Here’s the applicable language in the CBA between the NFL and NFLPA regarding fine reduction appeals:
“On appeal, a player may assert, among other defenses, that any fine should be reduced because it is excessive when compared to the player’s expected earnings for the season in question. However, a fine may be reduced on this basis only if it exceeds 25 percent of one week of a player’s salary for a first offense, and 50 percent of one week of a player’s salary for a second offense.”
Manziel will enter the regular season as the Browns’ backup quarterback after Brian Hoyer was named the club’s starter earlier this week.