You remember how much everyone enjoyed Chad Johnson’s and to a less extent, Steve Smith’s, touchdown celebrations last year? The NFL didn’t like it. They saw you smiling, they saw you laughing, they heard you talking about it with friends and co-workers… and they will have no more of it. Soon, they will send security guards into the stands to slap the beer out of your hand and punch you in the face if you smile.
Everyone must be the same. Everyone must be palatable to corporate sponsors. Everyone must behave like a good little boy. The NFL is going to make their celebration rules a new “point of emphasis,” meaning that if anyone tries to do something people might enjoy, they’re getting a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff.
I have been mildly critical of the excessive celebration before, but… just because I feel it’s a little bit selfish, doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. Chad Johnson improved my Sundays last year. Fact. And I’m sure he did the same for a lot of people… I just cannot fathom why the NFL would want to stop him.
Chad Johnson, to his credit, is not discouraged.
“Of course you can not stop someone as creative as me. How can this bother someone as creative as me? Tell the competition committee that Chad said you can’t cover 85 and there’s no way you can stop him from entertaining.”
I’d like to believe you, Chad. But the NFL has a long history of extinguishing fun wherever it exists. They’ll find a way to get you.
The Big Picture
chad’s gonna just have to get more creative this year… a sign saying “15 yards ain’t shit” could be a start.
March 28, 2006 at 3:30 am
Adam
It blows my mind that a league as successful as the NFL can have their priorities so badly misplaced so much of the time. The only people who were upset with the celebrations last year were old sports writers and my grandfather. Almost everyone else thought it was fun, or, at the worst, harmless. And yet it’s the focus of rule changes.
That said, I’m looking forward to seeing Chad Johnson try to get around all this.
March 28, 2006 at 3:40 am
DookieStyle
Welcome to the No Fun League.
Fans…as a protest…should develop mass celebration manuevers…
Say Chad scores…he holds up the football…and then everyone in the stands pretends to cut off the person to the right of them’s head with a chainsaw.
Or 70,000 start during the bull dance. Or pelvic thrusting.
March 28, 2006 at 8:15 am
Garthmeister J.
Wait… does this mean that Johnnie Morton can’t do the Worm after one of this three touchdown receptions for the year? If that is the case I am heading down to the NFL meetings to kicks ass and take names, because I need that Morton ray of sunshine.
March 28, 2006 at 10:04 am
Kn8
Do you think they’ll cut off my cable feed if I throat-slash at home?
March 28, 2006 at 11:33 am
Big Daddy
I would think that the league would encourage Chad in his celebrations because it gives the average Bengal fan something positive to look forward to.
March 28, 2006 at 11:34 am
dawgpwned
“You can’t cover 85.”
I find this very amusing as #28 of the Cleveland Browns Leigh Bodden earned the “yes” check mark this year. So I guess everyone (except Leigh) can’t cover you, right Chad?
http://www.youcantcover85.com
March 28, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Pacifist Viking
The players should have included something about this in the CBA. TD celebrations are a chance for individual players to gain exposure that can help them make more money. If they approached this as an economics issue (the owners are limiting their opportunity to sell themselves), it might be treated differently.
March 29, 2006 at 1:00 am