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ELABORATE NFL TOUCHDOWN CELEBRATIONS BANNED: Bengals receiver Chad Johnson already plotting ways to circumvent rules.
*It’s time to bid a fond farewell (or for some, a good riddance) to Sharpies, cell phones, “rock the baby” routines and other choreographed end zone celebrations following NFL touchdowns, as such antics were officially banned by the league at the NFL owners meetings Wednesday in Orlando.
The new rule, passed 29-3 by the competition committee, forbids most of the elaborate post-touchdown behavior popularized in recent years by such receivers as Chad Johnson, Steve Smith and Terrell Owens. As previously reported, the excessive celebration rule was on the table during the owners meetings this week, and on Wednesday, became one of 15 proposals to be approved by the competition committee.
"I think it's needed," San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer told The Associated Press. "The game is about the team, not the individual."
Players next season will be limited to the following celebrations: spikes, dunks, Lambeau Leaps, spins, dances and minor celebrations. Fifteen-yard penalties on the ensuing kickoff will be given for any thing more excessive than that.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what Chad [Johnson] will come to celebrate with now," Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy told the AP after the vote.
Johnson, a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals – whose celebrations have included giving CPR to the football, proposing marriage to a cheerleader and using an end zone pylon as a golf club – told a Cincinnati reporter that he will organize his own competition committee meeting with receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Owens to come up with ways to celebrate touchdowns without breaking the rules – like moving the spectacle to the sidelines.
Other memorable touchdown routines include the Snow Angel, the rowboat and the “wipe the baby bottom” - all from Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.
