Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was fined $7,875 by the NFL on Friday for taunting an opponent in Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Sherman was not fined for his postgame comments that were critical of 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Rather, he was fined for his onfield actions during the game, although the NFL did not specify the actions that brought the fine.
After Sherman had just deflected a pass intended for Crabtree in the end zone that was intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith in the final minute, Sherman extended his hand for a handshake with Crabtree, who shoved Sherman in the face.
Sherman was then penalized for making a choking gesture toward the San Francisco bench. Sherman said it was directed at quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“I ran over to Crabtree to shake his hand but he ignored me. I patted him, stuck out my hand and said, ‘Good game, good game.’ That’s when he shoved my face, and that’s when I went off,” Sherman said this week.