THE NFL is delicately balancing how to allow players to celebrate their accomplishments without disrespecting their opponents.
Every year it feels like the NFL bans more celebrations, and that isn’t any different this season.
The NFL banned some celebrations this offseason[/caption]
This year, a major update to banned celebrations included the nose swipe celebration that many players use.
Players also aren’t allowed to make any gestures that allude to a firearm or other type of weapon.
Despite these restrictions, the NFL insists that it encourages players to celebrate, as long as they do so respectfully.
“The league over the years has increased opportunities for players to celebrate,” NFL rules analyst Walt Anderson told The U.S. Sun.
“It’s appropriate celebrations that we want to encourage, and matter of fact the fans like seeing that.”
Anderson spelled out exactly what the league doesn’t want to see from its players.
“The key word there is ‘appropriate,’” Anderson continued.
“What is against the rules is inappropriate gestures, particularly gestures that are violent or sexual in nature.
“Those are just prohibited.”
Anderson insisted that the NFL loves to see the celebrations that players come up with.
The league knows that fans love celebrations too, and want to see players continue to use their imaginations.
“What the league is really trying to do is to celebrate great play, but discourage disrespect of your opponent,” Anderson said.
“Our players have great imaginations as you’ve seen, they come up with some really good celebrations.
“They are encouraged to continue to do that.”
Alongside the banned nose swipe celebration, Anderson revealed other celebrations that the league has banned.
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“There are certain actions that by rule are just not allowed,” Anderson said.
“A throat slash, a nose swipe, making sexual-type gestures to your opponent, pointing the ball or throwing the ball at your opponent, getting in his face after the play is over, stepping over him and posing over him after you just tackled him.
“Those really just show disrespect not only to your opponent but to the game and that’s what the rules are intended to prohibit.”
Any celebration that is deemed unsportsmanlike by the officials will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
That usually results in a team being pushed back 15-yards.
