NFL Wants Even Less Celebrating

Once again, the NFL is cracking down on celebrations. Touchdown dances, sack celebrations, ball-spinning, even the military salute are all likely a thing of the past. Players are being warned that these celebrations (and more) will result in penalties this season.

If you ask me, we don’t celebrate enough. (At least in the non-football world.) We are very good at beating ourselves up when things go wrong. We need to make sure we are spiking the ball (or popping the cork) when things go great.

Now the NFL does have a point. I don’t want to see a 20-minute dance routine every time someone scores, but there should be a little room for common sense too. A fifteen yard penalty for a little ball-spin after an 80-yard touchdown catch? Really? That’s just a dumb rule.

Vikings coach Bud Grant used to fine his players $500 (back when an NFL player actually cared about $500) for spiking the football in the end zone after they scored a touchdown. He didn’t want them to do it. He would tell his players, “Act like you’ve been there before.”

I love Grant’s thinking, but for the rest of us I think we need to spike the ball more often. Do good work. Be proud. Look for things to celebrate. It’s important. (And don’t worry about the penalty. It’s enforced on the kickoff.)