Rams' Celebrants Get Fines

The "Bob 'N Weave" was an expensive celebration dance for eight St. Louis Rams players, fined a total of $90,000 by the NFL on Thursday.

Wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, both repeat offenders this season, were fined $20,000 each for violating the rule against "prolonged, excessive or premeditated demonstrations" during the Rams' 40-29 victory over Minnesota last Sunday. Tight end Roland Williams, also a repeater, was fined $15,000.

Running back Marshall Faulk and tight end Ernie Conwell were fined $10,000 each, and offensive guard Tom Nutten and running backs Justin Watson and James Hodgins were fined $5,000 apiece.

"I tripped out on the number they threw out at us," said Holt, who invented the end-zone dance last year during the Rams' drive to the Super Bowl championship. "I may make a call to try to get the number down, but if not, I'll take care of the fine and we'll move on."

NFL owners voted last March to levy fines for celebrations by two or more players. The vote was 30-0 with one abstention - the Rams.

"The coaches said across the board that players on their teams regarded it as provocative," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said then. "The coaches felt it was very negative to spend time before a game trying to cool players down. They felt there was no need for it to be an issue in the locker room."

The NFL said in letters to the players that it was the third offense for some. Five players, including Bruce and Holt, were fined $5,000 after the Sept. 17 game at San Francisco, and the league said there was some bobbing and weaving after the Sept. 4 opener against Denver.

Quarterback Kurt Warner plans to pick up the tab, although he'll have to find a way around league rules to do it. Fines are deducted from players' paychecks.

"They tell me I can't technically pay fines for other players, that nobody can pay fines for other players," Warner said. "We'll see what we can do for league purposes.

"We don't want to sep on any more toes. They might fine me for that, too."

Bruce, picked for his third Pro Bowl on Thursday, said the fines were "pretty stiff" and planned to appeal. But he didn't appear overly worried about the money and didn't see it as a great deterrent against the Rams trying the dance again this season.

"Their standpoint is, they may not stop us, but at least we'll think about it," Bruce said. "Some guys may think about it."

Holt had no regrets and said he would not appeal.

"What is there to contest?" Holt said. "It's obvious we did something we weren't supposed to do, but it was for the better of the team and it worked for us."

Warner did not participate in the "Bob 'N Weave" after the Rams' first two touchdowns against the Vikings. He said the fine might have been high because of a perception that the Rams had a vendetta against Minnesota coach Dennis Green, who is co-chairman of the NFL competition committee and pushed for the ban on celebrations.

Warner said that had nothing to do with the Rams' decision to bring back the "Bob 'N Weave."

"I wonder if the league threw out those fines feeling that there was something else behind this other than a team going out and trying to have fun and trying to get back the emotion we had last year," Warner said.

Warner didn't regret making the offer.

"If it sparks this team and it carries us where we think we're capable of going, then it was well worth it," Warner said. "I knew it could be expensive, but the major thing was to get this team back and get guys excited about playing again."

It worked for Watson, who sprinted off the bench to participate in the "Bob 'N Weave" after the second touchdown.

"It's power," Watson said. "You use it for enthusiasm. I've got to get involved."

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