Jets' Allen Lazard Defends Controversial Gun-Like Celebration, Claims Lack of Warning
Despite the league's stance against violent gestures, New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard asserts that his celebratory motion was not a violation. Lazard maintains that he received no prior warning about the potential penalty, prompting his decision to dispute any forthcoming fine.
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The New York Jets' disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday was further marred by a controversial penalty levied against wide receiver Allen Lazard for a celebratory gesture deemed by officials to resemble a gun. Lazard, 28, vehemently defended his actions on Wednesday, claiming that he was unfairly targeted and had received no prior clarification from the NFL regarding the prohibition of such celebrations.
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"It's very unfortunate that I'm the victim of this situation, but it is what it is," Lazard told the media. "It's a part of the NFL and it's a part of the entertainment factor."
Lazard's controversial celebration occurred in the third quarter after he hauled in a 12-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers, giving the Jets a fresh set of downs. As Lazard lay on the turf, he appeared to make a gun-like motion, resulting in a costly 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
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"It's something very silly," Lazard said of the penalty. "I haven't received zero clarification from the league. I've spoken with coaches and I expect the league to come at me with a fine. But it definitely will be exempt because I was never warned about it."
Lazard argued that the absence of prior warning renders any potential fine invalid. "If I am [fined], they're definitely going to exempt it because it wouldn't make sense to fine someone for something you never warned them [about]. It's like implementing a new driving rule. If you're driving down the street with only one hand, and you never told me that I can only drive with two hands, that's not a lawful democracy in that sense."
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The NFL has taken a firm stance against violent gestures and unsportsmanlike conduct in recent years. Atlanta Falcons wideout Drake London was recently fined $14,069 for a similar gun-like touchdown celebration, while New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers was also slapped with a $28,128 fine for two gun-like celebrations after scoring.
Lazard's comments come as Aaron Rodgers also faces criticism for his apparent disconnect with Jets head coach Robert Saleh after a sideline incident involving cadence control during the Denver game. However, Lazard downplayed the notion of any rift between Rodgers and Saleh.
"There's no disconnect between Aaron and Coach Saleh," Lazard said. "I think everything got blown out of proportion. Aaron is a leader on this team and he's got everybody's back."
Despite Lazard's defense and the Jets' collective frustration over the Denver loss, the team remains committed to improving and achieving their goals.
"We're going to learn from our mistakes and we're going to get better," Lazard said. "We have a lot of talent on this team and we're going to be just fine."
