12/21/24
March 29, 2006
NFL Curtails End Zone Celebrations : NFL owners voted 29-3 Wednesday to limit end zone demonstrations, including those using props such as Johnson's pylon putt or Terrell Owens' Sharpie signing; or another Owens specialty, sit-ups after a score.
posted by irunfromclones to football at 06:10 PM - 62 comments
I agree that it's about time the "Down by contact" crap can finally be overturned. As for the celebrations, they were getting a bit out of control. If all these other performances are considered "taunting" then the acts Johnson, Smith, etc. put on need to be cut out. I'm sure many of the receivers will decide, "To Hell with the team" and just celebrate with no regards to the 15-yard penalty, especially if a particular game is a blowout.
posted by dyams at 06:33 PM on March 29, 2006
I always liked the Barry Sanders approach; - score touchdown - hand ball to ref - run back to huddle
posted by irunfromclones at 06:39 PM on March 29, 2006
I like the Chad Johnson approach: - score touchdown - do something that makes me laugh - meander back to huddle
posted by fabulon7 at 06:42 PM on March 29, 2006
votes for barry sanders...just how much faster he was than everyone else was celebration enough
posted by FozzFest at 06:44 PM on March 29, 2006
I always liked the Barry Sanders approach... ah yes, you forgot one. - walked out on his team in his prime because they sucked. people like to hold up barry as this quintessential team player for not celebrating solo in the end zone, but isn't it just as likely that he couldn't dance? or that because he was in there 2 or 3 times a game, that he didn't have enough ideas?
posted by ninjavshippo at 06:48 PM on March 29, 2006
While I think a lot of these guys' end zone antics are rather stupid, I believe that yardage penalties should only be assessed for one of the following three things: - Something that gives a player/team an unfair advantage (like offsides or holding) - Something that could hurt someone (like clipping, late hit or face mask) - Messing with the officials End zone dances, sack celebrations and the like are none of those, and while I think they are stupid, they should not be penalized. Personally, I'm all in favor of a coach telling his guys not to do silly crap like that, but the league should not. Just my opinion, however.
posted by TheQatarian at 06:52 PM on March 29, 2006
No i never said he was a team leader i said that he was super fast....teamwise i vote for walter payton I don't know if he could dance in the end zone, all i know is he sure as hell danced on the way to it.
posted by FozzFest at 06:53 PM on March 29, 2006
Nin, if you wouldn't have quit working for a shitty organization after: * becoming wealthy enough to not have to work another day in your life * begging the organization to make changes to improve itself * realizing you had your health, something you might not have if you played even one more down of football (especially for the fucking Lions) ... then you have a right to call Sanders out. But if you think you might walk from a completely incompetent company after doing just about everything you could to make them better, you're either fiercely loyal, incredibly stupid or a mix of both.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:58 PM on March 29, 2006
Chad's Response: "Tell the competition committee that you can't cover 85, and there's no way you can stop him from entertaining."
posted by mick at 07:19 PM on March 29, 2006
On Barry: The only thing I'm upset about what he did was not explaining his actions to his fans. I do not blame him one bit for walking out, and I think I speak for a majority of Barry's fans. He had been begging the front office for years to make changes, and all he got was the runaround. On Chad: I enjoy some of his end zone celebrations. But I do think that they should be toned down. If not, players will be hiring choreographers instead of agents. On reviewing down-by-contact calls: It's about friggin' time!
posted by wingnut4life at 07:30 PM on March 29, 2006
wfrazerjr, step away from the keyboard pal. first of all, i don't think i need to meet any of your criteria to call anyone out on a sports message board, but thanks anyway. secondly, barry was one of my favorite players when active. i was just suggesting that maybe the reason he was so stoic in the endzone by "acting like he'd been there before" was because he just didn't like to dance... as for my other comment, it remains unchallenged. he left the team in his prime, the team sucked and it didn't seem like he was going to get any better. that doesn't make him a bad guy, but it doesn't make him the perfect picture of "team" either. i think someone like tony gwynn fits that more accurately. /ontopic: in any case, this is all tangential. what i don't like about limiting the "excessive" celebrations is that there's a grey area now as to what qualifies as a penalty and what doesn't. this is inviting the same conspiracy theorists that thrive in the nba, saying that certain players will be singled out for calls because they aren't liked by the refs. just seems like there's better places they could be focusing their efforts. i also like the down by contact change.
posted by ninjavshippo at 07:35 PM on March 29, 2006
but isn't it just as likely that [Barry] couldn't dance? That hasn't stopped the likes of McNabb and Culpepper from doing their little arm twirls.
posted by cl at 07:39 PM on March 29, 2006
...the reason he was so stoic in the endzone by "acting like he'd been there before" was because he just didn't like to dance... I honestly feel that his father made him the way he was. How can you be happy when your dad keeps telling you that Jim Brown is way better than you? And he walked away before breaking Payton's record, is that selfish? I gained a lot of respect for Emmitt Smith when he acknowledged that Barry would be the record-holder had he not retired.
posted by wingnut4life at 07:40 PM on March 29, 2006
There is a diffference between some of the classier end zone celebrations, such as The Lameau Leap, and The Mile High Salute, which obviously include the paying fans, and some of these theatrical, gimmicky, self serving, circus stunts that a few of the league's prima dona's insist on making us watch. Given the choice, I would rather have none, than to have to watch TO, Joe Horn, et al blow their own horn, or reiterate trash talk, every time they do what they are paid to do... As Jim Brown said, "If you get in the end zone, act like you've been there before".
posted by mjkredliner at 08:51 PM on March 29, 2006
From what i'm to understand from what i have read about, and true i may be misinformed, the Lambeau Leap will be banned because he left the end zone to have his celebration.... I think a lot of these celebrations are very funny, Joe Horn's cell phone, Moss mooning the cheeseheads, etc. but every time i see them at the same time, i think of pro wrestling...and i don't want to think of football as nothing but theatrical. John Elway's comebacks, Doug Flutie's BC Hail Mary, and even Captain Comeback Jim Harbaugh's losing effort at Pittsburgh strike me as way more entertainment than someone golfing in the end zone...
posted by FozzFest at 09:11 PM on March 29, 2006
you can shorten a game with the antics gone,and maybe at few less commercials.if the players want the antics go do it inthe locker room
posted by arturo at 09:16 PM on March 29, 2006
I like the CFL and their lack of limits (AFAIK) on endzone celebrations. You get choreographed stuff involving several members. Entertainment (nothing wrong with that in the CFL, nobody will confuse it for the pinnacle of pro football). I don't recall it ever being along the lines of the "in your face, suckas!" sort of stuff but the prima donnas that get people in an uproar about celebrations (or the audience that is uproarable) seem to be in the NFL.
posted by gspm at 09:16 PM on March 29, 2006
The point of the new rules is challenging the "down by contact" rules. I think that they deserve more coverage...so the point is, think about a game...about 4-5 moments in a game there are "questionable" dbc's that are called. We can't tell really off hand...so that's what makes all these plays so great...now the officials can make things better (just don't give coaches more than two challenges...make them 'conserve' those challenges...)
posted by chemwizBsquared at 09:34 PM on March 29, 2006
I agree with chemwizBsquared on the DOC's...I think that he's also right with the challenges, it makes the coaches more tactical during the game, and can definitely alter the course of any game with a well played challenge...I would like the officials to rediscuss the "no challenges under 2 minute rule" The CFL is a league where the endzone celebrations are choreographed but i think if the CFL was more commercialized(as the NFL is) than we might be having the same thread discussion right now about CFL endzone celebrations...but you are right , the prima donnas are mainly in the NFL, but NFL is not alone... With as much other stuff that is going on in other sports, the fact that endzone celebrations are the biggest deterrent is pretty impressive
posted by FozzFest at 09:50 PM on March 29, 2006
i thought the dances were cool i wonder if u can jump intp the crowd still? they should defenily not give more than a 5 yard penalty. i wonder which 3 owners still wanted the dances
posted by Barry-from-H-town at 10:01 PM on March 29, 2006
I honestly think end-zone celebrations are awesome,everything from chad johnson to Tony Hill (old school) and even eveyone's whippin boy T.O. and I also like class acts like Marvin Harrison, Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk...BUT cannot stand A-hole like Ivin,Carter,and Sanders who would get a 3-5 yrd reception and would celebrate doing the 1st down sign.....GOD that would piss me off.....
posted by Grrrlacher at 10:05 PM on March 29, 2006
i wonder which 3 owners still wanted the dances just a guess, but probably the 3 teams who have the greatest chance of being penalized- Dallas, Carolina, and Cinci
posted by SavyMcSaverson at 10:09 PM on March 29, 2006
Barry here's a link on the 3 owners who voted NO on the celebration....***spoiler****If your to lazy I'll give you a hint....John Wayne/Eroll Flynn/1988 winter olympic gold medal (downhill ski champ)........(jeopardy them song in background)......
posted by Grrrlacher at 10:15 PM on March 29, 2006
From the FPP link: The innate conservatism of NFL coaches also played a part in the vote, on which Dallas, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay were the dissenters.
posted by njsk8r20 at 10:22 PM on March 29, 2006
the lambeau leap is priceless. should not be banned. and leroy butler inventing it to give back to the fans should be cherished and enjoyed by every packer fan out there.
posted by zepp70 at 10:29 PM on March 29, 2006
Whomever first said "act like you've been there" should have trademarked it. Everytime this topic is brought up (talk radio/tv/internet) that phrase is repeated as if from the bible. Sure, it was great when sanders acted like he "had been there before", but I doubt he was trying to prove a point. It was simply his personality. He was low key. Ever hear him interviewed? ZZZzzzzzzzzzz. I don't want every running backs doing the barry sanders. Sure, there's a limit, but there's nothing wrong with natural excitement and celebration. Variety is good.
posted by justgary at 10:59 PM on March 29, 2006
ya have to remember that they are still kids and it should be a thrill. most of us will never have that chance
posted by heritage at 11:31 PM on March 29, 2006
I guess that particular idiom rings true to a lot of folks then, justgary.
posted by mjkredliner at 11:34 PM on March 29, 2006
I think its really kind of funny that they have to have all these meetings and rules and rulings about people dancing and acting like dumbasses after scoring a touchdown in a game. Some are good, remember Vai Sikahama's (sp?) punching bag? What about the Ickey Shuffle? Limits would be fine but why not let them have a little fun? And I think not allowing the Lambeau Leap is a sacrilege against the spirit of the Packers and the game itself.
posted by fenriq at 12:14 AM on March 30, 2006
I guess that particular idiom rings true to a lot of folks then, justgary. Then their brains are on lazy mode. Sure, there's a certain truth to it, but it doesn't close the case as some seem to believe. A wide receiver scores the winning touchdown and jumps into the stands. That has ZERO to do with "acting like he's been there before". It has everything to do with excitement. Again, variety is good. A league full of barry sanders would look like a league full of robots. ya have to remember that they are still kids and it should be a thrill. most of us will never have that chance Um, no they're not.
posted by justgary at 12:14 AM on March 30, 2006
Let them celebrate. Most of the guys that "over celebrate" never really win the big ones anyway. T.O. Horn, Johnson etc... Wait! It ain't about the big one. It's about me, me, me. I, I, I. SHUT THE F*#& UP and PLAY!
posted by Sailor at 12:37 AM on March 30, 2006
posted by justgary at 12:53 AM on March 30, 2006
My feelings on celebrations have been said before, so I will just leave it at "it's about time they did someting about it." As for down by contact; yes, there have been many plays that were apparently called wrong by officials, but how are they going to handle the play where a whistle is blown, half of the players stop on the whistle, the play is challenged and overturned, and the recovering team had advanced the ball for a TD? I can see this being a bigger problem than it has been in the past. 1) Officials will not blow the whistle on ANY questionable call, figuring that it can be overturned and ruled down by contact after the fact, this will lead to more challenges, penalizing coaches who have to make the challenge, because they still only get 2. 2) Players will disregard the whistle on any play where there is a loose ball, on the off chance that it was NOT down by contact, and they have a chance to recover. This will lead to injuries when they impact players who DID quit at the whistle. The only way I see this being a good thing is if a coach retains his challenge if the call is overturned, but then that has been my position for quite awhile now. And if the coaches retain their challenges, then we will have more delays in the game, and the game gets longer....it is a viscious circle.
posted by elovrich at 01:35 AM on March 30, 2006
In the "old" days when Jim Brown, OJ and the other Premier players scored, there was no "special " dance or celebration to bring attention to himself. I see it as a selfish ritual that doesn't belong in the game. Just quit calling attention to yourself and play football.
posted by Ranbo at 02:10 AM on March 30, 2006
How ironic that two of the SI Memorable Celebrations were performed by Cincinnati Bengals? Strange, but true. And where the hell was Kenny Anderson's vintage "Electric Boogaloo" dance? Man, that shit was cuh-razy!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:08 AM on March 30, 2006
the lambeau leap is priceless. should not be banned. Given it was explicitly allowed (i.e., not banned), you must be pleased.
posted by yerfatma at 07:08 AM on March 30, 2006
Can you imagine where the next pitch from Roger Clemons would be if some hitter did an "oh look at me...ain't I special" dance after hitting one of Roger's fast balls out of the park. Personally, I would like to see a defensive plalyer take the same kinds of actions against these dancin' fool prima donas.
posted by whoknoz at 08:53 AM on March 30, 2006
Personally, I would like to see a defensive plalyer take the same kinds of actions against these dancin' fool prima donas. Well, since it would simply off-set the 15-yd unsportsman-like penatly, putting the ball back at original line for the following kick, you may just get your wish. Hmmmmmm, perhaps this is what the owners had in mind after all....
posted by elovrich at 09:22 AM on March 30, 2006
In the "old" days when Jim Brown, OJ and the other Premier players scored, there was no "special " dance or celebration to bring attention to himself. Well, then watch all those exciting nfl films from 30/40 years ago (you might not enjoy that 'white shoes' guy though). The nfl was more popular then, huh? Time marches on. You can't stop it. The rule actually isn't that bad. I don't want props included in celebrating. But thank god some fans aren't in control of the league. They'd take it too far and it really would be the no fun league.
posted by justgary at 09:55 AM on March 30, 2006
We are creating a generation of arrogant athletes. Case in point being the comerical by the gatorade sports drink. The young man who is walking like he stepped in some s---. The young lady staring down the male who just ran over her on the basketball court. I'm not a prude, it just makes for our kids wanting to emulate pompus behavior. I did like Chad Johnson's riverdance. He doesn't go overboard with his celebrations.
posted by mustang71 at 10:23 AM on March 30, 2006
psssst, how come nobody's talking about Holmgren and his pending retirement?
posted by wingnut4life at 10:25 AM on March 30, 2006
Barry didn't need the Lions! He could have gotten out of his contract and played elsewhere, instead he retired as a Lion! He did what was best for him. (Just ask former Oakland center Jim Ott what he should have done. I am sure that he will tell you from his wheelchair that he should have retired sooner! Or maybe we could ask Mike Webster, if he was still here!) Barry is a class act, we need more players like him & Larry Fitzgerald, who simply show their talent, hand the ball to the REF and go on their way. This goes for Joey Porter's "Boot kick" too! Let's play football!
posted by steelerchooks at 10:31 AM on March 30, 2006
Why isn't the sport of Football entertaining enough? You get these arrogant, selfish assholes with grillz on their teeth and enough gold to make Mr. T wince making a huge deal out of doing what they are paid to do...score. I can't see how the NFL was any less entertaining when Payton would give someone a stiffarm that would snap the defender's neck, score quietly and rejoin his teammates. I'm not against all celebrations, mind you. Spike the ball, do the Lambeau Leap, salute your fans but leave the fucking cell phones and sharpies in the locker room.
posted by willthrill72 at 10:41 AM on March 30, 2006
I am in the allow them to celebrate corner. Justgary's link to the celebrations made me laugh. Sports is just entertainment anyway. I never really understood why the NFL got rid of teammates celebrating together. It's a team game, the team does something good, the team celebrates together. As for the down by contact, that's just what we need, more reasons to slow the game down.
posted by bperk at 10:53 AM on March 30, 2006
Entering this discussion a day late and am surprised to see that no one has mentioned the fact that Philly was one of the three teams who opposed this ban on excessive celebrations. Doesn't anyone else find that ironic? I would have thought they spearheaded the charge...
posted by MW12 at 10:54 AM on March 30, 2006
I think it's a little ridiculous. I like the end zone celebrations. I like a little fun with my sports - it's hardly life and death. I have a hard time believing that end zone dancing and the general lack of polite behaviour throughout socieity are really cause and effect related. It's likely the reverse. Bring it on. I think that bad end zone dancing will police itself. These guys are letting what two, three incidents over the last three years ruin it for everyone? That's specious reasoning.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:16 AM on March 30, 2006
You get these arrogant, selfish assholes with grillz on their teeth and enough gold to make Mr. T wince making a huge deal out of doing what they are paid to do...score. i like to see the passion and excitement in the players. who cares if this is what they're "paid to do?" the guys who some of you seem most annoyed by (t.o., johnson, smith) do their job a lot better than everyone else, so let them have their moment. i think there's arrogance at the highest level of every sport (i.e. jordan, bonds, clemens, ortiz, pistons... list goes on). we're singling these guys out for their "selfish" way of taking 10 seconds of the spotlight? some of us have some real thin skin to get annoyed by that.
posted by ninjavshippo at 12:15 PM on March 30, 2006
I like the good old days in sports when if you hit a QB late, dissed your opponents in the end zone, danced on the home teams logo at mid field, or rubbed a teams nose in your success, every team had a few enforcers on the squad that would put you out on a stretcher. Quit running to the officials for help, if your team is disrespected settle it the old fashioned way...with some nasty payback. GO ahead and celebrate just rember which teams will make you pay a price. We need more coaches like Mike Ditka and Bill Cowher to keep their players in line.
posted by Atheist at 12:48 PM on March 30, 2006
No celebrations, thats like taking out the ball in football, dam idiots, owners need to see that things like endzone and sack celebrating encourage people to go to games, buy their merchandise, they will see a decline.
posted by galmazan at 01:00 PM on March 30, 2006
Come on let them dance! You need to let the people see their favorite stars doing their thing! I mean the fans should vote on it after all we are the ones paying $115 a ticket to see the Jets go 4-12 and the only score we see is a field goal all im sayin is let it BE! I for one wanna see what chad will do next.
posted by Robb Dubbs at 01:38 PM on March 30, 2006
Ain't this a bitch? Just when I get into the position to enjoy TO's bullshit, then they have to cut it out. Woe is me! But, that's OK for now. I still have the Final Four and there ain't no ACC/Big East showdown. If I had an end zone, I would dance and strut and dare the stripes to fling their yaller hankies.
posted by Bud Lang at 02:16 PM on March 30, 2006
...BUT cannot stand A-hole like Ivin,Carter,and Sanders who would get a 3-5 yrd reception and would celebrate doing the 1st down sign.....GOD that would piss me off..... Why would that piss you off? What's the difference? It all takes the focus off the team and puts in on an individual player. Why would one act of selfishness be more upsetting then the other? That's ridiculous, either you don't mind celebrations or you do, you can't pick and choose based on a personal player preference. That's just being ridiculous, take a stand and don't flip-flop on it.
posted by ampto11 at 04:34 PM on March 30, 2006
That's ridiculous, either you don't mind celebrations or you do, you can't pick and choose based on a personal player preference. That's just being ridiculous, take a stand and don't flip-flop on it. I beg to differ. Sports is all about personal preferences. All manner of personal feelings go into deciding which teams you support, which players you love/hate, and more. Everything having to do with sports is based on personal preference. I thought the "Ickey Shuffle" was funny; then again, I rarely saw it done at the expense of my favorite team. On the other hand, I loathed Mark Gastineau's "Sack Dance," because the Dolphins played the Jets twice a year, and I saw it far too many times. What's ridiculous is trying to tell a sports fan that they can't "pick and choose based on a personal player preference." Of course they can. That's the attraction of sports for millions of people: you pick your own heroes and villians.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:43 AM on March 31, 2006
The Black Hand raises an interesting question: what about the dances done by defensive players when they get a sack or make a great hit? Should they be penalized too?
posted by MW12 at 06:40 AM on March 31, 2006
Should they be penalized too? I was under the impression most of the defensive celebrations did (usually) get taunting penalties. Am I wrong?
posted by dyams at 07:17 AM on March 31, 2006
Defenders should be penalized when they celebrate a big hit at the end of a gain by the offense. Actually, I think they should be fired for doing that. It's stupid.
posted by Hugh Janus at 09:32 AM on March 31, 2006
Black Hand, I see your point and perhaps my post was a little short sighted. I do agree that sports is all about personal choice and I certainly have my own heroes and villians. Good points all around. I guess I was meaning to say I don't see a difference in celebrating a touchdown over a sack or fumble recovery or 3-5 yard first down. All these acts are selfish in that they take the focus off team accomplishment.
posted by ampto11 at 09:50 AM on March 31, 2006
It's understandable to celebrate when you're excited. I'm all for that, just not the big productions that go into the showboating aspect of it. Excitement is a natural human emotion, showboating isn't.
posted by wingnut4life at 10:56 AM on March 31, 2006
Defenders should be penalized when they celebrate a big hit at the end of a gain by the offense. Same for DBs who applaud for more than 5 seconds when a pass is incomplete even though they got beat.
posted by yerfatma at 11:19 AM on March 31, 2006
Same for DBs who applaud for more than 5 seconds when a pass is incomplete even though they got beat. Ding ding! We have a winner!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:10 AM on April 01, 2006
Celebrations should not be what bring people out to the game. It should be the caliber of the players, or the fans love of there team. Not to watch some yahoo dance around just because they did their job.
posted by BigDawg61 at 09:01 PM on April 08, 2006
It was only a matter of time. Only thing I have to say is thank god they can finally challenge down by contact calls.