METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas has been fined $12,500 for a uniform violation and a touchdown celebration in which he placed a bow on a football and gave it to a fan during the Saints' win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Pierre Thomas was fined $12,500 for his Christmas-themed celebration Monday night. John David Mercer/US Presswire

The fine for the celebration is $7,500. Thomas also violated NFL policies by wearing Christmas-themed green and red tape on his black and gold Saints uniform, and his fine for that is $5,000.

Notice of the fines was taped to Thomas' locker by teammates with a big red bow on top as part of a prank.

Thomas says he's still happy he "gave a lucky fan a wonderful gift." He says he'd noticed the woman in Saints gear behind the end zone and figured she deserved it.

The NFL also fined Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton for unnecessary roughness during the same game, a league official told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Lofton was fined $15,000 for hitting a defenseless player in the head and neck area, the source said.

In the second quarter of the Saints' 45-16 win, the Falcons were penalized 15 yards for Lofton's hit on Saints receiver Marques Colston.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.