Call to make celebration rule more lenient
Few NFL rules irritate me more than the excessive celebration rule, which penalizes the offending team 15 yards on its subsequent kickoff. Considering how NFL rules are already skewed to favor offenses, requiring a team to kick off from its own 15-yard line dramatically increases the chance of the opposing team scoring on its subsequent possession. Even if the kickoff return is well-defended, the offense needs only a couple of first downs to get into field goal range.
Recall how this could have impacted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. As the rules are written, Santonio Holmes should have been penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration after his tiptoe catch gave Pittsburgh the lead with 35 seconds to play. Those 15 extra yards might very well have allowed the Arizona Cardinals to score the touchdown they needed to pull out a last-second victory. The only thing that saved Holmes is that his celebration was significant delayed by: diving to the ground, being mobbed by teammates, and taking the time to return to the field of play before doing his LeBron James-ish routine. By the time his celebration was underway, the officials had already turned their attention to the forthcoming kickoff. In my estimation, excessive celebration should draw a penalty of only five yards—enough to be of some consequence but not enough to be a likely game-changer.
Unfortunately, celebration penalties are an issue in college football too. Last September Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker scored a touchdown with two seconds to play against Brigham Young, leaving the underdog Huskies an extra point away from overtime. But Locker tossed the ball high in the air in celebration, and the resulting unsportsmanlike conduct penalty made his team’s extra-point try 15 yards longer. The conversion attempt was blocked and Washington lost the game 28-27. It seems a shame to have the outcome of any game altered by an excessive celebration penalty, especially when it occurs in the closing seconds. Anyone else agree?
Jason’s Pittsburgh Steelers blog is online at http://the-steelyard.blogspot.com.
| Santonio Holmes Super Bowl celebration
I completely disagree. The NFL wants to cut down on people acting like idiots. The rules and penalties are known beforehand, so shame on a player for costing his defense or special teams 15 yards by doing something he KNOWS he shouldn’t do.
I miss the days of Barry Sanders… remember him? Scored a touchdown, flipped the ball to the official and ran off the field to study for his next offensive series. I miss a classy guy like that. Its one thing to be excited, its another to act like a fool… and thats what these show boats are doing, in my opinion… acting like fools.
I’m going to have to disagree with Michael. One of the things I miss was the incredible joy of a player that scored a great touchdown. Michael, don’t let a few idiots like T.O or Chad Ocho Stinko spoil it for everybody. Pulling out cellphones and other stupid stuff is excessive but throwing a ball in the air or taking off your helmet should not cost you 15 yards. The writer of this article is a Steeler hater, I’m tired of the media saying if the refs called a penalty or charged the them with 15 yards that the Cardinals would have probably won the game. The Steelers won and the Cardinals lost. Ok, what if Warner would of thrown an interception?? Anything could of happened.
I agree with Sean. After a clutch catch like Holmes made, a player has to be pumped up. Celebration should be allowed to a degree.
I also have to disagree with Michael. I think the celebration rule is ridiculous and takes a lot away from the game. If a player feels the need to do a dance after a touchdown, I am happy to see it. Michael, you enjoy the business of football, I enjoy watching players who are playing with emotion – for the love of the game.
Let’s celebrate it!