Well, it's been 15 minutes, which means it's time for the NFL Gestapo to sanction somebody -- anybody -- for breaking a rule that the majority of the football-viewing public couldn't care less about: yep, the scourge of professional sports everywhere: choreographed group celebrations. Jeebus.
During Wednesday's Official Review segment on Total Access, head of officiating Mike Pereira admitted that the Ronnie Brown et al touchdown shimmy highlighted above (around the 5:30 mark) should've been flagged because it was premeditated. No penalty was called, but the league, clearly looking to send a message to would-be end zone gyraters around the country, did slap Brown with a fine.
After scoring on a 5-yard run out of the Wildcat formation, Brown and two of his offensive linemen, Vernon Carey and Ikechuku Ndukwe, gathered in the end zone and performed the Cupid Shuffle, which is a line dance.Brown would only say "enough" when asked about the amount of the fine, although the Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly writes that "such infractions typically go for about $7,500." (But, hey, at least the NFL is consistent about meting out the punishment.)
The choreographed performance, which Brown admitted he and the entire starting line practiced during last Friday's walkthrough, violates the league's rules against group celebrations, which must be spontaneous. ...
If anything, Brown should be punished for admitting that he and his teammates actually practiced the celebration that still looked like three drunk guys dancing together at a fraternity party.
By the way, if you watch the video above, you'll see rookie first-round pick Jake Long bag out on the Cupid Shuffle a few seconds in "because he didn't want to get fined." Also acceptable: "because he didn't want to look a drunk fraternity dude."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2008 @ 3:40AM
Joel said...
Ok so last seasons worst team in the nfl finally has something to dance about, lets fine them. But don't worry lets allow Ocho Cinco to run around making an @ss of himself, and show how high these overpayed athletes think they are. This is a complete joke to be honest, whats the big deal. I guess if your not a cry baby like chad johnson or the girl TO then they will find anything to screw you over.
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10-10-2008 @ 11:20AM
Hank said...
Whether anybody likes to believe it the dances are entertainment for the fans and for the price of admission of admission today they should let the whole damn team river dance if they want
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10-12-2008 @ 10:16AM
Anthony said...
Dolphins doing the dance ??. I call it being happy is there anything wrong about that being happy and not over doing it they did not call a flag on the play but fine the players 3 day's later. Dolphins you keep winning and do what you want. the Ref's are out there this year, but be smart about it and do not lose yards on the next play, by being happy ? I guess we should just not show any emotion at all. Get a life and while your at it get a new entire NFL Ref's on the field, there should be a fine on bad calls that are over turned on the Ref's it's only fair to fine the ones that fine us for being happy yes there is a point there I can see over doing it. but this is by far not over doing it the Ref's walked right by them they did not see any problem there. Why see 1 now boy things are off to a bad start on the Ref's this year
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10-12-2008 @ 10:34AM
Alex said...
sapp is just that he is a sapp ,did not do nothing with raider so now he is just talking crap
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