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Critics of the NFL who claim

the league is too dull, formal, stuffy, or emotionless have had

plenty to gripe about since the league ruled to cut down on and

rein in excessive celebrations the past December. 

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The “No Fun League” decided to disallow players from using props or

performing any celebrations that involves going to the ground.

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This means self-proclaimed entertainers such as Chad Ochocinco or

Terrell Owens can no longer give the football CPR, fake a proposal

to a cheerleader, sign a football with a Sharpie, pull out a cell

phone and fake dial someone, or any of the other outlandish antics

that some players have resorted to in recent years. 

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Dunking the football over the field goal posts and the famous

Lambeau Leap were also under consideration, but the Rules Committee

ultimately decided to allow these according to an ESPN report.

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The new rules are not without controversy however, with Dallas

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently publicly criticizing the new

standards after he felt an unfair celebration penalty on Marc

Colombo played a key role in the Cowboys 34-27 loss to the

Tennessee Titans. 

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Colombo was penalized for falling to the ground during a touchdown

celebration in which he lost his balance after chest bumping with

teammate Jason Witten.

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“Any time you legislate a rule or legislate behavior, it can have

unintended consequences,” Jones told reporters. “And I really don’t

think somebody falling down was the intended consequence of the

rule to have that dramatic effect on a ballgame.”

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The NFL is not the only one tinkering with experimental celebration

rules. The NCAA instituted a change to their celebration rules this

season. Now if the celebration infraction occurs before the player

crosses the goal line, the touchdown will not count and the 15-yard

penalty will be assessed from were the incident began.

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This has yet to nullify a touchdown, but the new rules have not

been embraced by most of the college football media. Brian Gummell

of Fanhouse called the new rules a “pathetic attempt to crush

youthful exuberance,” and added that he hoped these new rules would

not cost teams games like the celebration rules of 2008 cost the

University of Washington against Brigham Young University. 

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In that game, quarterback Jake Locker was penalized 15 yards after

throwing the ball high in the air which was one of the celebrations

outlined by the Competition Committee in its crackdown on

unsportsmanlike rules. Washington failed to convert the extra point

and subsequently lost by one.

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Celebration and emotions are

as much a part of football as cheerleaders, fans, and tailgating,

but like cheerleaders, fans, and tailgating, celebrations are

subject to rules and regulations. So, until everyone can come to an

equilibrium agreement, you be the judge of what is fair and

unfair.