{"id":332296,"date":"2025-12-07T07:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T07:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/332296\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T07:22:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T07:22:10","slug":"texans-nico-collins-gets-bad-news-as-nfl-delivers-punishment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/332296\/","title":{"rendered":"Texans\u2019 Nico Collins Gets Bad News as NFL Delivers Punishment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Nico\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Nico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n

The Houston Texans<\/a> are bracing for a critical Week 14 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.<\/a> However, Texans wide receiver Nico Collins<\/a> had unfinished business from the team\u2019s win over the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> the week prior.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for Collins, the NFL<\/a> made the final call, and the ruling was not in his favor.<\/p>\n

Collins found himself part of a league-wide crackdown, which ensnared many of his peers in Week 13.<\/p>\n

Nico Collins Gets Bad News Before Texans Game\"Nico<\/p>\n

GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans reacts during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The NFL\u2019s Football Operations portal revealed<\/a> that Collins received a $14,491 fine for \u201cunsportsmanlike conduct.\u201d It was over what the league deemed a \u201cviolent gesture\u201d following a reception for a first down in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Collins did what used to be his signature celebration: finger guns.<\/p>\n

It was slight and delivered underhanded as he rose to a knee following the 29-yard reception. It was on a drive that ended with the Texans turning the ball over on downs.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast weekend was a big one for violent gesture fines around the #NFL \u2013 5 players were fined for a violent gesture,\u201d SportsTalk 790\u2019s Adam Wexler reacted in a post<\/a> on X following the league\u2019s announcement of the Week 13 punishments on December 6.<\/p>\n

The league made \u201cunsportsmanlike conduct\u201d a \u201cpoint of emphasis\u201d for this season.<\/p>\n

Collins\u2019 act falls under Section 3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), Article 1 (Prohibited Acts), Item (d) of the NFL rulebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It includes \u201cAny violent gesture, which shall include, but not be limited to, a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the \u2018nose wipe\u2019 gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose were up 133%,\u201d NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said, per the Associated Press<\/a> in August. \u201cIt\u2019s just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The in-game penalty is 15 yards. There were no other fines from the contest.<\/p>\n

Nico Collins Gets Honest About Finger Gun Celebration\"Nico<\/p>\n

GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collins tied Baker Mayfield<\/a> of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> and DK Metcalf<\/a> of the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> for the highest fine of the bunch in Week 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is what it is. It\u2019s they decision. But I feel like, man, you can\u2019t be too aggressive with it with the thumbs, you know what I\u2019m saying \u2013 pause,\u201d Collins said<\/a> with a smile in September in reaction to the league\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just gotta be smart with it. Be smart when you get the ball, not make the refs call anything. Know they gonna be looking and itching to throw they flag, itching to fine you, you know what I\u2019m saying? So, I know my celebration kind of had little gun points. But I know them boys gonna be looking at me the whole time. So, I might just stand right there and come back to the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collins then joked he would still do it, saying, \u201cI gotta let them boys know, move the sticks.\u201d<\/p>\n

This marked the first time he has been fined this season. However, Collins was fined three times in 2024, including during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs for an \u201cobscene gesture,\u201d per Spotrac<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collins had other incidents go unnoticed<\/a> last season, too. The bigger concern is that Collins\u2019 gesture could be called during the game and cost the Texans in a potentially high-leverage situation.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJosh Buckhalter<\/a> covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Texans\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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