NFL Announces Punishment Decision on Cowboys’ George Pickens
NFL games are jam-packed with excitement, but sometimes, things can get a bit too wild on the field. Players get caught up in the moment and do things they aren’t supposed to do. That was the case during the Dallas Cowboys‘ 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, November 17, in Vegas.
Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens did the same move that was made by Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams the day prior, and as with Williams, he got handed an in-game penalty. During the first half of the game, Pickens scored a touchdown, and to celebrate, he jumped up and hugged the base of the goalposts. That action, by the NFL rules, gets a player an unsportsmanlike penalty, which is what Pickens got. Pickens finished the showdown with nine receptions, 144 yards and one touchdown, so it was a great performance for the wide receiver.
But, the story isn’t over. The NFL has made a decision on whether it’s going to punish Pickens more.
George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys Gets Punished
The NFL hands down punishments to players every Saturday for actions taken during the previous week’s games. According to the league, that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” As for the amount and kinds of punishments, the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.
The NFL sends out fines and punishments for actions that are deemed unsportsmanlike conduct, such as what Pickens did. And, on Saturday, Nov. 22, they announced that Pickens has to pay up.
In the league’s accountability report, they announced that Pickens will have to pay $26,085 for “use of prop” and “unsportsmanlike conduct.” In addition, DeMarvion Overshown was fined $8,166 for a “late hit” and “unnecessary roughness.” For what it’s worth, Williams was also fined. On Saturday, the NFL announced that they’re fining him $14,491 for “use of prop” and “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Dallas Cowboys Player’s Fine Will Go to a Good Cause
The funds raised from the NFL fines, according to an official statement from the league, will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”
Looking ahead, the Cowboys are 4-5-1 heading into their game against the 8-2 Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 22, at home. In the NFL’s predictions going into the game, their experts state that they “need to see this new version of the Cowboys compete with the NFC’s elite” before they can “buy into their chances of a turnaround in 2025.” They add that “If Vic Fangio’s suffocating defense relents at all, Dak Prescott could find an opening and exploit it. I’m just skeptical that the Cowboys have been transformed on the fly.”
The Dallas Cowboys have moved up in the NFL’s power rankings for Week 12. In the feature, published by Eric Edholm of the NFL’s website on Tuesday, November 18, the Cowboys are up three spots to No. 20.
Chiefs Star BREAKS HIS SILENCE — Shuts Down Contract Rumors With a Fiery Promise to Kansas City: “I’m Staying. I’m Fighting. And We’re Taking Our Dominance Back.” Fans Are Losing Their Minds After His Unexpected Vow
The Kansas City Chiefs have spent the season battling inconsistency, public pressure and internal doubt — a far cry from the era when they ruled the NFL with unmatched confidence. With the team fighting to regain its identity, conversations about the future have become an unwelcome distraction inside Arrowhead Stadium.
As speculation grew louder about the long-term plans of one of Kansas City’s most important leaders, the noise threatened to overshadow a season that still hangs in the balance. Fans wondered what this uncertainty meant for the locker room, for the offense, and for a team trying to reclaim its position as one of the league’s most feared contenders.
Only in the third paragraph did he make his stance unmistakably clear: Travis Kelce refused to let contract discussions take attention away from the mission in front of him. The veteran tight end dismissed questions about his future beyond 2025, insisting that this year is about one thing — fighting for Kansas City’s pride.
“I want my mind on football, on winning, on lifting this team — not on contracts or what comes next,” he said, delivering a statement as fiery as any play he’s made on the field.
Kelce reminded everyone of what the Chiefs once were — the standard-bearer of the NFL, the team every opponent feared. He believes that identity is still inside the building, waiting to be awakened.
“We’ve been the team nobody wanted to see. That’s still in us — we just have to fight for it every single week,” he added, a message directed as much to his teammates as to the public.
For him, this season isn’t about uncertainty. It’s about responsibility. Mahomes needs him. The offense needs him. The locker room needs him. Instead of fueling speculation, Kelce chose to anchor the team emotionally, refusing to let anything — including his own future — become a distraction while Kansas City tries to claw its way back into contention.
He did, however, leave a door open for what comes next. After this season, he’s willing to evaluate everything with honesty — his health, his ability to contribute at an elite level and the team’s desire for him to continue.
“If this team needs me and I can still play at the level Kansas City deserves, I’ll be here. But right now, it’s about the next game — the next battle.”
For Chiefs fans, the message hit deep. He isn’t walking away. He isn’t uncertain. He’s simply choosing the fight in front of him over the noise around him. And in a season defined by adversity, his leadership arrives at the moment Kansas City needs it most.
This isn’t about contracts. It’s about reclaiming who the Chiefs are — one week, one battle, one inch at a time.
