Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott fined by NFL for latest Salvation Army kettle celebration

The NFL has officially fined Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott for their latest touchdown celebration involving the Salvation Army kettle. The Dallas Cowboys have built a relatively new holiday tradition this season by involving the kettle in their celebrations twice — paying tribute to the first time Elliott used it as a prop years ago.

The NFL continued their own tradition of fining Dallas players for the decision, handing down the latest punishments. After celebrating a touchdown by Elliott against the Colts with Prescott’s help, they have been fined $13,261 each for a total of over $26,000.

Elliott and Prescott fined for using the kettle

With the tight end corps for Dallas performing their own routine in the kettle before, Dallas players have now been fined a total of $53,616 for the signature celebration. The kettle has been a fixture in the Dallas end zone area for a long time, but has only been used as a touchdown prop a couple of times before this season.

Elliott led the modern push for the kettle being a prop after jumping into the kettle to celebrate a score in 2016. However, former star Terrell Owens used the red kettle in a special way back in November of 2006 as well. Instead of jumping into the kettle as the Cowboys players do now, Owens ran up to the kettle and “donated” the touchdown ball after catching a touchdown pass from Tony Romo.

The Cowboys have two more home games scheduled before Christmas Day, so there are likely to be more chances for the Dallas players to test the NFL’s patience. A home matchup this week with the Houston Texans is up next, with a Christmas Eve showdown with the division-leading Eagles promising a major audience on national television.