NFL Touchdown Celebrations Are About To Make A Big Comeback
By Erik Lambert
It was always a curious thing when NFL touchdown celebrations were banned by the league a few years ago. People couldn’t find a solid reason for it.
League officials stated it had something to do with sportsmanship and maintaining a higher standard. Truth be told it came off looking like just another petty way for the league to make the game less enjoyable for the players while also taking an absurd amount of money out of their pockets for trying to have fun. Hence the long standing nickname the “No Fun League.” Something that prominent players and even coaches have called them out on.
Well it seems the cries may have finally gotten through. With ratings having slipped this past season, the league seems intent on loosening their iron grip on the rules with touchdown celebrations being a big part of it. According to Peter King of the MMQB, plans are for the rule to be altered to some degree this year.
"“The NFL flagged and fined 26 players for excessive celebration last year; most of those this season will not be penalized or fined. Commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff met on at least two occasions this spring with a large group of players (one club official told me Goodell talked with more than 40 players about this issue) and came to his senses: It’s asinine to use the “ball as prop” reason to penalize players, and even more asinine to fine someone $12,000 for the simple act of expressing joy after scoring a touchdown. Most of those will disappear Tuesday at the league meeting.”"
All about that $$$$
Sure this feels like a minor concession by the league intent on finding a way to drive fan interest and thus increase revenue flow. Then again that’s at the heart of every notable rule change they make. How can we make the game more exciting and make more money? That’s fine. The NFL is and always has been a business. Either way this is great news for fans. Now not only will players be more inclined to score more often, it might bring out some new and creative celebrations.
Perhaps reminiscent of the glory days when Chad Johnson and Steve Smith pioneered the art. Time will tell on that. As it stands this should at least add another layer of fun to a game that has started to feel stale at times over the past couple seasons.