Carson Palmer fined by league under unsportsmanlike conduct rule

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer's intention to entertain his friends Sunday night in Seattle cost him a good chunk of change.

Palmer was fined $11,576 by the league Friday for unsportsmanlike conduct -- a pelvic thrust that he told ESPN on Thursday was directed at a few friends sitting behind the Cardinals bench, and not at Seattle Seahawks fans.

That, apparently, didn't matter to the NFL.

Palmer was fined for violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(c) of the NFL rulebook, which states: "There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct. This applies to any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship. Such acts specifically include, among others: ... (c) The use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams."

Palmer made the gesture after running back Andre Ellington broke a 48-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that sealed the Cardinals' 39-32 win over the Seahawks. NBC's cameras showed Palmer's gesture, and it quickly went viral.

"I had my buddies in the sideline, right four or five rows up," Palmer said. "I saw them pretty excited and [that] got me excited to see them excited."