Viking Fined for a Wee Bit of Twerking

Viking Fined for a Wee Bit of Twerking

Viking Fined for a Wee Bit of Twerking
Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.

The NFL doesn’t look fondly on ‘twerking’ or any touchdown celebration it considers too controversial. Well, there was a smallish twerk on Sunday during the Minnesota Vikings 27-22 triumph over the New York Jets — and your friends at the NFL’s front office noticed.

Alexander Mattison performed the “suggestive” dance after a touchdown at U.S. Bank Stadium. It seemed the 24-year-old had gotten away with it this week, as the celebration clip was shared worldwide, even by NFL media. But no cigar, as the league waited until Friday to levy a fine.

The league fined Mattison $6,503 for the twerk.

The Vikings only allowed Mattison to touch the ball 5 times versus New York, resulting in 18 yards from scrimmage and the touchdown. But the score was of the utmost importance, shoving the lead to 17-3 at a time when it felt like Minnesota would alas win a game handily. Of course, they did no such thing, allowing the Jets back into the game after a 20-3 advantage but later hung on to win by five.

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Dec 5, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.

Naturally, Mattison was unimpressed with the fine, tweeting on Friday, “They share it like crazy.. then fine you like crazy 😂😂 smh.”

He also questioned the random amount, “And I just wanna know who sits there and comes up with these random number amounts for fines 😂.”

Mattison wasn’t the only player fined from the contest. Jets safety Jordan Whitehead was docked for a big hit on wide receiver Justin Jefferson, one the NFL deemed illegal. Like Mattison, Whitehead was displeased with the fine.

Mattison is earning $965,000 in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract with the Vikings. The fine of $6,503 is the equivalent of a person making $40,000 per year — paying a $270 ticket.

The Vikings take on the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Ford Field. Minnesota is a two-point underdog despite holding the NFL’s second-best record at 10-2.

The fine is the first of Mattison’s career. Teammate Dalvin Cook was fined in October for throwing a football in the crowd during a game at the Miami Dolphins


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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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