Sorry Chad...

[tedginn05]

NFL rules changes target TD celebrations

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

<body.content> </body.content>LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Terrell Owens, Steve Smith and Chad Johnson are going to have to get even more creative after the NFL curbed their touchdown celebrations Wednesday. A new rule prohibits players from going to the ground or using the football as a prop.

The rule will be enforced by a 15-yard penalty and is subject to a fine.
Gone are Owens’ sit-ups, Smith’s rocking the football to sleep and Johnson’s putting. Spikes, dunks and dances still are legal.

“I don’t think it’s disrespectful or lewd,” said Smith’s coach with the Carolina Panthers, John Fox. “But I think what the league is concerned with is: Where does it stop? Just like anything else, it’s contagious.”

The Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Bucs were the only teams to vote against the measure.

Owners also expanded the horse-collar tackling rule and tightened the restrictions on hitting quarterbacks below the knee, among other rules changes Wednesday.

The horse-collar tackling rule – or so-called "Roy Williams Rule" – was passed last year to ban grabbing a runner inside the shoulder pads and immediately pulling him back. Williams made the tackling technique infamous when he injured Owens and others during the 2004 season.

But only two horse-collars were flagged last season, and only one was a correct call, said Mike Pereira, the NFL’s supervisor of officials. There were, however, four injuries from takedowns inside the back of the collar that weren’t considered horse-collars under the rule.

“We had problems distinguishing whether it was the collar of the jersey or the inside of the shoulder pad,” Pereira said. “But the result was the same.”
Now, any tackle of a runner from inside the back of his collar is a foul.

Knee injuries to Ben Roethlisberger, Brian Griese and Carson Palmer resulted in the league modifying its rule on low tackles of quarterbacks. While those three hits still will be legal under the new wording, the NFL hopes to limit injuries to quarterbacks’ knees by making defensive players aware of the rule.

“We’re saying, ‘If you have a chance to avoid, avoid,’” Pereira said.

Defenders are allowed to hit quarterbacks below the knee only when they are blocked (or fouled) into the passer with “no opportunity to avoid him.” Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp’s low hit on Drew Bledsoe during a game last season is a video clip Pereira used to show what now is illegal.

Owners also approved a change to instant replay that will allow for down-by-contact plays to be reviewed, while limiting the referee’s review to 60 seconds. Pereira said 12 down-by-contact plays could have been overturned last season.

Two measures were rejected Wednesday: The competition committee had recommended ignoring flinches by receivers if they had no effect on the play and had proposed allowing a designated defensive player on each team to wear a small speaker in his helmet to communicate with the bench as quarterbacks now do.

<body.end> <tagline type="std">Charean Williams, (817) 390-7760
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com </tagline> </body.end>

LINK

[bucknut11]

You think a fine's gonna stop them from celebrating? Dream on...

Minnesota's controversial wide receiver was fined $10,000 Thursday by the NFL for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during a playoff win last weekend.

"Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand, to me?" said Moss, whose salary this season is $5.75 million. He then jokingly suggested he might perform a more vulgar celebration next time.

KARE-TV of Minneapolis recorded the exchange between Moss and reporters outside the Vikings' practice facility.

Reporter: "Write the check yet, Randy?"
Moss: "When you're rich you don't write checks."
Reporter: "If you don't write checks, how do you pay these guys?"
Moss: "Straight cash, homey."
Reporter: "Randy, are you upset about the fine?"
Moss: "No, cause it ain't [expletive]. Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand to me? Ain't [expletive] … Next time I might shake my [expletive]."

[The Man]

The NFL should be worrying about other things, they have bigger problems (full-time officials maybe????)

[Mr. Clutch]

This will really show how selfish these players are. If they're willing to show off and risk 15 yards for their team, then it just will come to show how important their team really is to them.

[Buckeye513]

Originally Posted by BCSBust

This will really show how selfish these players are. If they're willing to show off and risk 15 yards for their team, then it just will come to show how important their team really is to them.

They're selfish for celebrating their successes?

Chad Johnson said today on ESPN that he and his "committee" (T.O. and Steve Smith) are going to get together and come up with celebrations that are both creative and abide by the rules. Besides, Mike Vanderjagt, John Kasey, and Shayne Graham were a combined 20 of 20 on FGs under 30 yards and 142 for 143 on extra points last year. I doubt it's going to make a difference if they do get flagged.

[tedginn05]

Originally Posted by Buckeye513

They're selfish for celebrating their successes?

Chad Johnson said today on ESPN that he and his "committee" (T.O. and Steve Smith) are going to get together and come up with celebrations that are both creative and abide by the rules. Besides, Mike Vanderjagt, John Kasey, and Shayne Graham were a combined 20 of 20 on FGs under 30 yards and 142 for 143 on extra points last year. I doubt it's going to make a difference if they do get flagged.

The penalty is enforced on the kickoff.

[Buckeye513]

Originally Posted by tedginn05

The penalty is enforced on the kickoff.

And where did you get that piece of information from?

Still won't make much of a difference.

[jwinslow]

there was a great suggestion on espn radio today. Once they begin a fancy celebration, start the playclock. The longer they take, the more they have to scramble to get an XP off in time.