League to Crack Down on Celebrations, etc.

[K-9]

I am confident the fans will appreciate our attempts to limit unsportsmanlike gestures on the field.

 

Outstanding.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[BILLS 4 EVER]

The NFL's says "No Celebrating" and "Enjoy the New Pro Bowl" I say, "You're killing the game." "Go Bills!!!"

"

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Guess everybody's got to act like they've been there now.

 

I wish the league just would have waited until it cycled back on it's own. When simply handing the ball to the ref came to be the next cool thing.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

Great point.

 

Too many rules on this ate silly; it's something that will regulate itself.

[Ozymandius]

This is a great move. The league will be better for it.

 

This reminds me of when the NBA forced their players to wear suits to games, and they couldn't sit on the bench without being in a suit. There was huge outcry from the players when that happened but now you can't imagine the NBA without that rule being in place.

 

It's okay to class up the game a bit.

[Golden Wheels]

The NFL is in the entertainment business, yet they penalize their showmen. Nice going Goodell. Glad you and the competition committee are taking care of this serious problem instead of that pesky head injury issue.

[thepizzaking]

http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1jtusa/the_nfl_is_cracking_down_on_celebrations/cbia5wp

 

It would appear that the celebrations listed are being given as examples of behavior that is unacceptable when it is specifically directed at an opposing player. This isn't that big of a deal.

[Mark Vader]

So the next time Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller or Scott Chandler scores a touchdown and they then jump into the stands and celebrate with the fans, will that be a penalty?

 

I use these players as examples because we've seen them do that.

[chris heff]

No Fun League

[bobblehead]

I blame White Shoes Johnson for all of this.

[thepizzaking]

So the next time Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller or Scott Chandler scores a touchdown and they then jump into the stands and celebrate with the fans, will that be a penalty?

 

I use these players as examples because we've seen them do that.

 

No. This is being overblown.

 

Here is the relevant language.

 

Section 3 Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Article 1 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:

(a) Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent even though no contact is made.

(b) The use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.

TAUNTING

( c) The use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.

(d) Individual players involved in prolonged or excessive celebrations. Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official.

(e) Two-or-more players engage in prolonged, excessive, premeditated, or choreographed celebrations.

Note 3: Violations of (b) will be penalized if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent. These acts include but are not limited to: sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball; spinning the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing the ball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent (prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.

Note 4: Violations of ( c) will be penalized if any of the acts occur anywhere on the field. These acts include but are not limited to: throat slash; machine-gun salute; sexually-suggestive gestures, prolonged gyrations; or stomping on a team logo.

Note 5: Violations of (d) will be penalized if they occur anywhere on the field other than the bench area.

Note 6: If any foreign object(s) are deemed a safety hazard by the game officials, in addition to a yardage penalty, the player will be subject to ejection from the game, whether he uses the object or not

 

The specific acts being listed are only applicable to (b). That provision has to do with what counts as taunting another player. So, for instance, if you spin the ball at an opposing player's feet, it could count as taunting. If you just spin the ball in the end zone in general then it's fine. If you flex your muscles directly at a quarterback you just sacked, that could count as taunting. If you just taunt towards the crowd or to your teammates, you're fine.

Edited August 6, 2013 by thepizzaking

[Ozymandius]

So the next time Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller or Scott Chandler scores a touchdown and they then jump into the stands and celebrate with the fans, will that be a penalty?

 

 

No. That would not be considered taunting the opponent and isn't specifically listed as an outlawed offense.

 

Looking at the list below, everything seems pretty reasonable to me. The NHL, NBA, and MLB would not allow these things to go unpenalized either.

 

 

(b) The use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.

TAUNTING

© The use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.

(d) Individual players involved in prolonged or excessive celebrations. Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official.

(e) Two-or-more players engage in prolonged, excessive, premeditated, or choreographed celebrations.

Note 3: Violations of (b) will be penalized if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent. These acts include but are not limited to: sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball; spinning the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing the ball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent (prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.

Note 4: Violations of © will be penalized if any of the acts occur anywhere on the field. These acts include but are not limited to: throat slash; machine-gun salute; sexually-suggestive gestures, prolonged gyrations; or stomping on a team logo.

[BuffaloBob]

 

 

No. This is being overblown.

 

Here is the relevant language.

 

 

The specific acts being listed are only applicable to (b). That provision has to do with what counts as taunting another player. So, for instance, if you spin the ball at an opposing player's feet, it could count as taunting. If you just spin the ball in the end zone in general then it's fine. If you flex your muscles directly at a quarterback you just sacked, that could count as taunting. If you just taunt towards the crowd or to your teammates, you're fine.

 

Thanks for getting the actual language of the rule in full context, instead of reading some "journalist's" hacked and taken out of context version! Clearly, you are correct. It is ONLY when those acts are directed at another team, player, game or league official, AND they are considered abusive, threatening or insulting.

 

It would seem that celebrating TDs as a team is fine, so long as they are not prolonged, on the ground and choreographed. Even celebrating individual plays is cool as long as they are not directed at someone.

 

[Peter]

 

 

No. This is being overblown.

 

Here is the relevant language.

 

 

 

The specific acts being listed are only applicable to (b). That provision has to do with what counts as taunting another player. So, for instance, if you spin the ball at an opposing player's feet, it could count as taunting. If you just spin the ball in the end zone in general then it's fine. If you flex your muscles directly at a quarterback you just sacked, that could count as taunting. If you just taunt towards the crowd or to your teammates, you're fine.

 

In that context (directed at an opposing player), the application of the rule should be fine. There should not be any taunting. On the other hand, genuine and natural reactions to scoring a TD seem to still be allowed, which is good.

Edited August 7, 2013 by Peter