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Chad Johnson of the Bengals and Steve Smith of the Panthers aren't going to have any fun with the celebration rule change being proposed by the NFL Competition Committee.
By Wednesday, NFL owners have to vote on an expansion of the taunting rules that penalize players for excessive end zone celebrations following touchdowns. Heading the list of violators are Johnson and Smith.
As a point of emphasis, NFL owners will vote and probably pass a clampdown on excessive celebrations. If passed, Johnson won't be able to do his CPR-with-a-football celebration, or his sideline-proposal-to-a-cheerleader routine, or play "pylon" golf with the ball after a score. He might be able to do his Riverdance as long as it doesn't delay the flow of the game.
For Smith, Carolina's Pro Bowl receiver, his touchdown Snow Angel would not be allowed, or his rowboat celebration, or his goalpost ladder climb, or his treat-the-football-as-a-baby, or his wipe-the-rear celebrations.
The penalty, if called, would be 15 yards and enforced on the ensuing kickoff.
"One of the major points of emphasis is sportsmanship," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the competition committee. "When we are talking about sportsmanship, we are talking about two areas. Number one, we are talking about taunting. If you recall two or three years ago, we made taunting a point of emphasis. That's the in-your-face, the lack of sportsmanship, the lack of respect for your game.
"Two or three years ago, they [tauntings] were being flagged and we almost eliminated them. I think we take responsibility. The officiating department and the committee have allowed them to creep back. We're going to make that once again a point of emphasis."
After watching hours of touchdown celebration tape, the committee felt the celebrations have gotten out of hand. The proposal specifically prohibits a player going down to the ground to celebrate, prohibits using the ball as a prop and prohibits using any other item as a prop, such as a pylon.
Still allowed are spikes, dances, Lambeau Leaps, spins and dunking the ball. Anything else is going to result in a penalty if the proposal is passed.
Some have called the NFL the No Fun League. Smith and Johnson might call it the No Fair League.
By Wednesday, NFL owners have to vote on an expansion of the taunting rules that penalize players for excessive end zone celebrations following touchdowns. Heading the list of violators are Johnson and Smith.
As a point of emphasis, NFL owners will vote and probably pass a clampdown on excessive celebrations. If passed, Johnson won't be able to do his CPR-with-a-football celebration, or his sideline-proposal-to-a-cheerleader routine, or play "pylon" golf with the ball after a score. He might be able to do his Riverdance as long as it doesn't delay the flow of the game.
For Smith, Carolina's Pro Bowl receiver, his touchdown Snow Angel would not be allowed, or his rowboat celebration, or his goalpost ladder climb, or his treat-the-football-as-a-baby, or his wipe-the-rear celebrations.
The penalty, if called, would be 15 yards and enforced on the ensuing kickoff.
"One of the major points of emphasis is sportsmanship," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the competition committee. "When we are talking about sportsmanship, we are talking about two areas. Number one, we are talking about taunting. If you recall two or three years ago, we made taunting a point of emphasis. That's the in-your-face, the lack of sportsmanship, the lack of respect for your game.
"Two or three years ago, they [tauntings] were being flagged and we almost eliminated them. I think we take responsibility. The officiating department and the committee have allowed them to creep back. We're going to make that once again a point of emphasis."
After watching hours of touchdown celebration tape, the committee felt the celebrations have gotten out of hand. The proposal specifically prohibits a player going down to the ground to celebrate, prohibits using the ball as a prop and prohibits using any other item as a prop, such as a pylon.
Still allowed are spikes, dances, Lambeau Leaps, spins and dunking the ball. Anything else is going to result in a penalty if the proposal is passed.
Some have called the NFL the No Fun League. Smith and Johnson might call it the No Fair League.
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