14 January 2023 , 15:01
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Cincinnati Bengals star running back Joe Mixon has challenged NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he was hit with a fine of over £10,000 after tossing a coin when celebrating a touchdown.
The celebration came in reference to the NFL's decision to toss a coin to decide where a playoff game should be held, if the Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens last weekend. The Bengals would go on to win the game, meaning no coin toss would be needed, but it's a decision that clearly angered the team.
Mixon had a real coin tucked into his sock, and brought it out when scoring the first touchdown of the game last weekend to do a coin flip in the end zone.
Mixon had previously spoken out about the issue of using a coin to decide who should host the game, and will now be forced to pay a hefty fine - but he has used it to send a challenge to commissioner Roger Goodell.
The league does not allow the use of props in celebrations, the reason as to why Mixon was hit with the fine. And after being made aware of what he'd have to pay, Mixon sent a message to the NFL.
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He wrote: "@NFL since y'all all about the coin flipping let's do this. Let's have a coin toss to pay this crazy fine for expressing myself. If it's heads I'll pay. If it's tails Roger G pay the money to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cincinnati."
The coin flip scenario had come into conversation after the Bengals game with the Buffalo Bills was cancelled after safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field.
Joe Mixon had a coin on his glove which he pulled out for the celebrationUsually, NFL rules state that they use win percentage as a tiebreaker should a game be cancelled, however, the NFL chose to use this incident as a one-off, and came up with an alternate option.
But with the Bengals winning the game comfortably, and capturing the division, the coin flip was not needed.
However, the two teams will still meet in the first-round of the playoffs, with Cincinnati to host their division rival Ravens, in a highly-anticipated matchup on Sunday night.
Like last season, the Bengals begun the season slowly but now look to be one of the more dangerous outfits in the league, with their offense firing on all cylinders being lead by superstar quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Ravens will be without their star quarterback with Lamar Jackson ruled out.