Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins says he was fined by the NFL for throwing a football at a fan in the stands after his Week 12 touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.
Collins’ second-quarter touchdown cut Tennessee’s lead to 17–13 in a game the Titans would win 32–27. Collins caught a total of nine balls in the loss for 92 yards and a score.
Collins said he saw a young fan in the stands and tossed him the ball before jumping into the crowd to celebrate with the fans. While he didn’t say an exact amount, Collins said the fine was about $5,000 for something he did in the past.
(The NFL’s player fine list lists “Football Into Stands” under a “Sportsmanship” violation and is a fine of $7,878.)
“It’s for the kids,” Collins told reporters Thursday. ‘I saw him screaming and thought, ‘Please, big dog. Here’s the ball. … I think they think you’re going to poke someone in the eye or something.”
Collins, who added that the decision was “well worth it”, said he will appeal the fine.
“All that matters is making that child happy,” Collins said. ‘He will never forget that moment. So that’s all that matters to me. It’s cool. I will pay the fine.’
