NFL Got Advice On Celebration Rule From Ironic Source

The NFL has long been known for being a somewhat uptight entity obsessed with the “integrity” of the game and their product.

That’s not always a bad thing but it can also get a bit over the top at time. Some of the rule changes they’ve made over the years have done more harm than good. At least in terms of making the games fun to watch. A big one that fans and players alike have lambasted several times is the severe restrictions on end zone celebrating after a touchdown.

A decade ago there was a wealth of creativity and enjoyment watching some of the best players in the league think up new celebrations. Sure some went a little overboard but that’s how things go in any profession. Apparently some of the league higher-ups were afraid the game was going in a bad direction and so the new rules were instituted.

However, after a ratings dip in 2016 nothing scares the NFL more than losing money. So if making the game more fun is what they must do, so be it. Word hit not too long ago that the rules would be relaxed to a degree. Exact details are still unclear but an interesting nugget just emerged about how they approached the change.

Apparently Commissioner Roger Goodell sought the advice of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson, the posterchild of end zone celebrating at its peak back in the mid-2000s. He claimed on a recent “B-More Opinionated Podcast” with Jason La Canfora that the two spoke a number of times about the change.

Ochocinco returns to save the NFL from itself

"“I had talked to Roger a couple of times at length, maybe two or three times, before the rule change came out. And he asked my advice on what he could do to be able to loosen the reins on the celebration rules, but at the same time maintain the respect and integrity of the game.“And I said, ‘It’s a fine line, and you have to find a way to find a balance between letting the players have fun and be themselves, without losing the integrity of the game as well.’ And honestly, I told him, ‘You only have to worry about who is celebrating and actually making the headlines, and that would be your top players who consistently score all the time.'”"

The irony should not be lost on anybody. Johnson was perhaps the biggest reason the league felt the celebration craze was getting out of hand. It almost seemed like the receiver was more interested in what craft gimmick he could do after his next touchdown than on winning football games. At the same time there is no doubt people wanted to see more Cincinnati Bengals game because they wanted to see what he’d do next.

It’s a welcome sight to see the NFL continuing to embrace change in order to not let the game get stale. Having seen their strict rules do little good over the past 10 years for making it better, then the time for a compromise was at hand. That Chad Johnson, of all people, helped bring it along? Strangely fitting.