The No Fun League

[Skinsfan55]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/ne ... id=5699746

Man, I hate the Cowboys and all... but penalties for excessive celebrations are ridiculous. It's an exciting game, emotions run high... and if you want to keep a team from celebrating, keep them out of the end zone.

Think of some of the most memorable moments in recent history. T.O. signing a ball after a TD and later dumping popcorn on himself, Joe Horn with the cell phone, the fun bunch, using the goal post as a heavy bag, dunking on the goal posts... are these all illegal now? How ridiculous!

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Last night's Indy/Skins game didn't have over the top endzone celebrations (from my vantage point), and was STILL fun to watch.

Take away the choreographed (sp?) end zone celebrations, and give me more:

1) Torain trucking defenders
2) Laron Landry sticks
3) explosive special teams hits
4) Pierre Garçon-like one-handed highlight grabs, etc.

THOSE things make the NFL fun, IMO.

[Irn-Bru]

and if you want to keep a team from celebrating, keep them out of the end zone.

What do you mean, "keep them out of the endzone"? It's not the opposing team that penalizes them for celebrations like that, it's the NFL (and with good reason, IMO).

Think of some of the most memorable moments in recent history. T.O. signing a ball after a TD and later dumping popcorn on himself, Joe Horn with the cell phone, the fun bunch, using the goal post as a heavy bag, dunking on the goal posts... are these all illegal now? How ridiculous!

"Memorable" is a good word for those events, although in that context I don't use it positively.

[brad7686]

They've taken it too far, definitely. From what I saw Colombo just fell down last week, and the one yesterday was a completely ridiculous penalty. Two people give a hook em horns sign and its a penalty? What? Although it did happen to the pukes, so whatever. I'm for any celebrations that take less than ten seconds and aren't appalling, but this is the no fun league. I think every player on offense should collectively mope every time they score a td, every game.

Every other sport you are allowed some window of celebration. In baseball, you can trot around the bases, chest bump after a home run, after a nice play, you can brawl. Soccer players basically put on a play. Basketball you can do most things aside from hanging on the rim. In hockey they do that stupid fist pump thing and everybody joins in. They also assault each other and nobody seems to mind. Tiger Woods fist pumps, and struts and yells, and cusses. It's really stupid that the NFL stopped something that made the sport what it was for so many years.

[MDSKINSFAN]

Players could just hand the ball to the ref but that just would make no sense.

[Redskin in Canada]

Players could just hand the ball to the ref but that just would make no sense.

It made PERFECT sense for Art Monk. THAT is what he was famous for.

Act as if you BELONG in the end zone, not as if it was a miracle.

PROFESSIONAL is a word with a meaning. They are supposed to act like one even if several insist in remaining as spoiled, rotten and over-paid brats.

Thanks for the PROFESSIONAL NFL.

[MDSKINSFAN]

Players could just hand the ball to the ref but that just would make no sense.

It made PERFECT sense for Art Monk. THAT is what he was famous for.

Act as if you BELONG in the end zone, not as if it was a miracle.

PROFESSIONAL is a word with a meaning. They are supposed to act like one even if several insist in remaining as spoiled, rotten and over-paid brats.

Thanks for the PROFESSIONAL NFL.

I don't know why players don't do it. It makes so much more sense in every possible way. Its zero risk, it earns the respect of fans, coaches, other players, and pretty much everyone else, and like you said it makes you look like a professional. I can't stand it when players act like they have never been there.

[Countertrey]

It also made sense to Walter Peyton, Larry Brown, John Riggins, Calvin Hill, Gerald Riggs, Charlie Taylor, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Charlie Joiner... et al.

They not only HAD BEEN THERE... they knew how to act like it. Occasionally, after an especially important score, one might spike the ball... but that was the exception. It was never contrived... never scripted... never theatrical attention seeking.

[Countertrey]

It's really stupid that the NFL stopped something that made the sport what it was for so many years.

Wow... must have missed that... I had probably headed to the bathroom the second the ref signaled touchdown... I had no idea that contrived celebrations had been so key.

[VetSkinsFan]

Players could just hand the ball to the ref but that just would make no sense.

It made PERFECT sense for Art Monk. THAT is what he was famous for.

Act as if you BELONG in the end zone, not as if it was a miracle.

PROFESSIONAL is a word with a meaning. They are supposed to act like one even if several insist in remaining as spoiled, rotten and over-paid brats.

Thanks for the PROFESSIONAL NFL.

Wasn't Art Monk part of the Fun Bunch as well? I don't see what the big deal is anyway. As long as it's not detracting from the game (rude, vulgar, too long, ect) then let 'em do it. After all, isn't football entertainment anyway? Some of 'em are unique and show they put thought in to it.

[SkinsJock]

Some players play the game with respect for both the game and the other players - lately there seems to be some that don't respect the opportunity to be a part of the whole scene at all

We are fortunate to see those that set a great example because it wasn't that long ago that so many great players were so happy to just be a part of the NFL

nowadays a lot of players with less ability seem to think they're better if they're "noticed"

[Irn-Bru]

It also made sense to Walter Peyton, Larry Brown, John Riggins, Calvin Hill, Gerald Riggs, Charlie Taylor, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Charlie Joiner... et al.

I think Barry Sanders was known for it, too.

From the descriptions (I didn't see the game) the penalty on the Cowboys this time around was over the top . . . for a "scripted" hand move that wasn't very scripted, and so minor. I'm one of those fans in favor of a move to penalize excessive celebrations, but I think the league is bringing on problems with enforcing things consistently.

[Countertrey]

It also made sense to Walter Peyton, Larry Brown, John Riggins, Calvin Hill, Gerald Riggs, Charlie Taylor, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Charlie Joiner... et al.

I think Barry Sanders was known for it, too.

From the descriptions (I didn't see the game) the penalty on the Cowboys this time around was over the top . . . for a "scripted" hand move that wasn't very scripted, and so minor. I'm one of those fans in favor of a move to penalize excessive celebrations, but I think the league is bringing on problems with enforcing things consistently.

Maybe... I mean, alum from the same school saluting each other with a nationally known hand gesture...

But, any rule applied against the Cowboys is a good penalty... no matter how unfair. I mean, really... is it even possible to be unfair to the Cowboys?

[Deadskins]

It also made sense to Walter Peyton, Larry Brown, John Riggins, Calvin Hill, Gerald Riggs, Charlie Taylor, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Charlie Joiner... et al.

I think Barry Sanders was known for it, too.

From the descriptions (I didn't see the game) the penalty on the Cowboys this time around was over the top . . . for a "scripted" hand move that wasn't very scripted, and so minor. I'm one of those fans in favor of a move to penalize excessive celebrations, but I think the league is bringing on problems with enforcing things consistently.

Maybe... I mean, alum from the same school saluting each other with a nationally known hand gesture...

But, any rule applied against the Cowboys is a good penalty... no matter how unfair. I mean, really... is it even possible to be unfair to the Cowboys?

Yep, and there's no one stopping them from doing whatever disp[lay they want when they get back to their sideline. Just don't do it in the endzone. Sounds pretty simple to me.

[brad7686]

It's really stupid that the NFL stopped something that made the sport what it was for so many years.

Wow... must have missed that... I had probably headed to the bathroom the second the ref signaled touchdown... I had no idea that contrived celebrations had been so key.

I didn't really word that the way I wanted to, I think you get my drift though. The NFL is really the only sport that consistently makes a point to censor joy.