Muslim touchdown celebratiion penalized

[Jimmy Higgins]

So are prayers only allowed on TDs?

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

So are prayers only allowed on TDs?

They're also allowed on 3rd and long. That's why the QB kneels in the huddle.

 

[doubtingt]

So are prayers only allowed on TDs?

It isn't TD specific, just that the choreographed celebrations the rule was intended to prohibit tend to happen after a TD. The rule prohibits "engaging in any celebrations while on the ground.” However, in the refs guidebooks and training they are told “not to flag a player who goes to the ground for religious reasons,”.
This exception isn't really even official but added by the head of officials in 2008 largely on his own because he said "I don't want to get struck by lightening".

They should just get rid of the "on the ground" rule altogether. Why is going to the ground worse than jumping into the stands or spiking the ball? IF they feel the need to limit elaborate celebrations, then just say "No choreographed actions among multiple players, no "props", and no longer than 5 seconds".
Then they don't need to have the refs deciding whether the act is religious.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

What exactly is wrong with celebrating after a TD anyways? I can see how it's unsportsmanlike to taunt and mock the other team for not being able to stop you and the like, but it is a huge accomplishment in the game and expressing one's happiness shouldn't be an issue. I miss all the big touchdown dances they used to do.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

What exactly is wrong with celebrating after a TD anyways? I can see how it's unsportsmanlike to taunt and mock the other team for not being able to stop you and the like, but it is a huge accomplishment in the game and expressing one's happiness shouldn't be an issue. I miss all the big touchdown dances they used to do.

You clearly don't remember the East Coast v West Coast TD celebration drive by shootings that became endemic.

The East Coast and West Coast teams just kept one upping each other. Once Super Bowl halftime like proceedings were held with each touchdown it began to get violent. TDs would be celebrated by getting into a vehicle and shooting down the opposing team. This is why the Tampa Bay Bucs and New England Patriots were so bad. They kept getting killed.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

What exactly is wrong with celebrating after a TD anyways? I can see how it's unsportsmanlike to taunt and mock the other team for not being able to stop you and the like, but it is a huge accomplishment in the game and expressing one's happiness shouldn't be an issue. I miss all the big touchdown dances they used to do.

You clearly don't remember the East Coast v West Coast TD celebration drive by shootings that became endemic.

The East Coast and West Coast teams just kept one upping each other. Once Super Bowl halftime like proceedings were held with each touchdown it began to get violent. TDs would be celebrated by getting into a vehicle and shooting down the opposing team. This is why the Tampa Bay Bucs and New England Patriots were so bad. They kept getting killed.

The NFL is a violent sport. They knew that going in. That means they can't turn around and cry about it later. If you don't want a group of guys gunning you down from their SUV, then fucking put a bit more effort in when you're trying to tackle the runner, you goddamned losers.

 

[Terrell]

The NFL probably didn't like things like these. Personally I don't think they should result in 15 yard penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. Homer Jones has nothing on these guys.





Case of excessive celebration, and a silly rule in the same play. The silly rule being that if you score a winning touchdown on the last play of regulation, you must kick the extra point, even though it's meaningless, as was the excessive celebration penalty.

 

[bilby]

So let me get this right: The teams are not allowed to bring an extra player on, as having one more man on the field than your opponents would be unfair, unsporting, and would render the game a farce; But if they want to bring a GOD in to help them out, that is perfectly OK??

WTF? Either God isn't going to participate - in which case, why bother - or He is, in which case, how the fuck is that fair?

If the Patriots are allowed to bring on God, then surely in the interests of fairness, the Chiefs should be allowed to use iron chariots, or something?

 

[Loren Pechtel]

So let me get this right: The teams are not allowed to bring an extra player on, as having one more man on the field than your opponents would be unfair, unsporting, and would render the game a farce; But if they want to bring a GOD in to help them out, that is perfectly OK??

WTF? Either God isn't going to participate - in which case, why bother - or He is, in which case, how the fuck is that fair?

If the Patriots are allowed to bring on God, then surely in the interests of fairness, the Chiefs should be allowed to use iron chariots, or something?

Both sides can bring their god. It's fair.

 

[bilby]

So let me get this right: The teams are not allowed to bring an extra player on, as having one more man on the field than your opponents would be unfair, unsporting, and would render the game a farce; But if they want to bring a GOD in to help them out, that is perfectly OK??

WTF? Either God isn't going to participate - in which case, why bother - or He is, in which case, how the fuck is that fair?

If the Patriots are allowed to bring on God, then surely in the interests of fairness, the Chiefs should be allowed to use iron chariots, or something?

Both sides can bring their god. It's fair.

Maybe, but it is the antithesis of sportsmanlike. Both sides think their God is real, and their opponent's is not - so they are both trying to cheat.

If celebrating a touchdown is unsportsmanlike, then bringing on a deity is surely far worse.