Elliott surprised by fine for celebratory Salvation Army donation

Ezekiel Elliott was surprised to learn he'd been fined $13,369 by the NFL for placing $21 in a Salvation Army kettle after scoring a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day.

Elliott avoided any punishment when jumped into the big red pot in 2016.

"I didn't really expect a fine, really don't care about the fine," the Dallas Cowboys running back said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.

"It's all for a good cause and we're trying to bring awareness to the Salvation Army and if the NFL doesn't like that, then, I mean, that's on them. I'll pay their little fine."

He does, however, plan to appeal the fine.

It's not the first time Elliott has faced off with the league office. He was suspended for six games last season - after a lengthy battle through the court system - for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

"I mean a lot of things they do define ridiculous but that's not really any of my business, not anything I can change," Elliott said. "So I'm just going to keep being focused on this season, focused on leading this team, focused on going out there and winning ballgames."