Yet another Kansas City Chiefs player has been fined for committing a penalty during their Christmas Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This time, it's rookie safety Jaden Hicks. After getting flagged for taunting early in the fourth quarter, the NFL has fined Hicks $5,151 for the incident. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson threw a deep ball to wide receiver George Picks down the sidelines, but Hicks came flying in for the pass breakup.
With Pickens still laying on the ground and Hicks standing over him, Hicks gave Pickens the thumbs down gesture. Hicks was immediately penalized, but it had no affect on the game since it happened after a fourth-down play, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Chiefs also already had the contest well in hand.
Giving somebody a thumbs down may be a bit rude, but it hardly seems severe enough to get fined thousands of dollars for. Unfortunately, the NFL is trying to prove that it will have zero tolerance for any unsportsmanlike conduct. Hicks will have to try to remember to not celebrate while looking at or being near an opposing player.
Hicks is having a tremendous first season with the Chiefs. His role on defense has grown larger in recent weeks, and he has made his presence felt. Hicks has recorded 24 tackles (two for loss), three interceptions, and four passes defensed on the year. He has also made an impact on special teams, playing nearly 300 snaps for the unit.
Hicks should get a lot of playing time against the Denver Broncos on Sunday as the Chiefs will rest several starters due to already having the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up. Other players who received fines against the Steelers were tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
