Keegan-Michael Key has provided an important service to the Carolina Panthers and running back Rico Dowdle. He has provided his expertise to explain a recent penalty and fine.
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The actor/writer/producer joined a recent Panthers meeting via Zoom to discuss the penalty that Dowdle received after scoring a touchdown against the Packers. The running back celebrated by doing "two pumps" while mimicking Key's character, Hingle McCringleberry.
Head coach Dave Canales joked that he might have to call Key in to get some clarification about the penalty, which he actually did this week.
Rico was pretty pumped to see him pic.twitter.com/azDvoWgvEr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 8, 2025
"The reason I'm here is I wanted to share with you guy, especially you, Rico, that I've done my recent research, and apparently, I guess, the rules that are made up in a comedy sketch do not necessarily reflect the rules in the NFL," Key said during the Zoom call.
Key continued and said that he had done some math. He figured out that the $14,000 fine boiled down to $7,000 per pump. He said that if Dowdle performed zero pumps, he would have to pay "zero thousand dollars in a fine."
Key's wife then joined the call to announce that they would donate $15,000 to the charity of Dowdle's choice after seeing his GoFundMe campaign, which the running back started after receiving the NFL's fine.
As Dowdle explained in the campaign, he wasn't actually raising money to pay off his fine. He just wanted to support those in need in North Carolina.
"After much thought I've launched a GoFundMe for my fines," Dowdle wrote. "Key said I got three pumps but I guess the NFL disagrees
"Actually, 100% of what is raised through this fundraiser will be sent to Children's Home Society of North Carolina. Children's Home Society promotes the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. They specialize in education and prevention programs, family preservation, and adoption and foster care."
So far, the campaign has raised $27,571 of the $35,000 goal, putting it well on pace to support many children in need.
