NFL fines Nate Burleson $10,000 for end zone celebration

After making an offensive gesture during a touchdown celebration in a Week 6 win over Philadelphia, Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson was effectively fined $10,000 by the NFL on Thursday, as reported by Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press.

Burleson hauled in a crucial 17-yard touchdown pass from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford late in the fourth quarter on Sunday to pull the Lions back into contention, and he celebrated by pretending to shoot an eagle out of the sky. Though the league informed him that he made a "violent action toward another team" with his celebration, the veteran receiver expects to appeal the fine next week and does not plan to slow down his post-whistle antics.

"I’ll have something for Chicago," Burleson said. "I’m not going to stop celebrating."

Tied for second on the team with 40 targets through five games, the 31-year-old Burleson remains the only player on Detroit's roster with at least two touchdown grabs to his credit. The league might not be too keen on his decision-making in the end zone right now, but it doesn't appear that the threat of a fine will actually deter Burleson from entertaining fans after a touchdown this season.