Buccaneers’ Vita Vea celebrates sack with sniper crawl amid NFL crackdown on 'violent' gestures

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Amid the NFL’s crackdown on violent gestures, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea appeared to imitate a sniper crawl after sacking Kirk Cousins in Thursday night’s match up against the Atlanta Falcons.

The incident took place in the fourth quarter on 3rd and 5 with the Falcons in the red zone. 

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18, scrambles away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea, #50, during the first half of an NFL football game on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Vea broke through the pack and sacked Cousins at the 28-yard line for a 9 yard loss.

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Immediately after the play, Vea crawled on the ground before celebrating with what appeared to be a gesture imitating a gun firing. The celebration did not draw any penalties, unlike New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard, who received a costly 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a similar celebration on Sunday. 

Lazard, 28, connected with Aaron Rodgers on a 12-yard pass in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The play would have resulted in a new set of downs, but while on the turf, he appeared to make a gun-like motion, resulting in a penalty. 

Lazard said in addition to the penalty, he expects a fine from the NFL, but he defended his celebration on Wednesday. 

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"It’s very unfortunate that I’m the victim of this situation, but it is what it is. It’s a part of the NFL, and it's a part of the entertainment factor."

He continued, "It's something