Wes Welker Penalized for Snow Angel

As the NFL's crackdown on players celebrating continues, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker got the season's first penalty for making a snow angel.

It's a blizzard in New England today, and after Welker scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, he decided to take advantage of the conditions for his celebration: He hopped on the ground, got on his back and made an angel. His teammates looked amused, but the officials didn't: The Patriots were assessed 15 yards on ensuing kickoff for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Welker isn't the first Patriot to make a snow angel; long snapper Lonnie Paxton famously did one when the Patriots beat the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs.

The Cardinals didn't have nearly as much fun in the snow as the Patriots; New England won 47-7.

NFLs Brutal Weather Games

LaMont Jordan and the Patriots romped over the Cardinals 47-7 on a snowy day in Foxborough, but it didn't compare to some of the other awful conditions through the years. Take a look at past NFL classics that were played in abominable weather.

Winslow Townson, AP

'Tuck Rule Game' - Patriots vs. Raiders - Jan. 19, 2002
The game became infamous for the play that spawned the "Tuck Rule" after Tom Brady's fumble was reviewed and ruled an incomplete pass. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Raiders 16-13 and win the playoff game in 20-degree temperatures and several inches of snow.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

'Frozen in Time' - Chargers vs. Bengals - Jan. 10, 1982
Behind the fearsome pass rush of Eddie Edwards and the leadership of quarterback Ken Anderson, Cincinnati played through the minus-59 wind chill to become the first Bengals team to ever go to the Super Bowl.

Wally McNamee, Corbis

'Mud Bowl' - Vikings vs. Rams - Dec. 26, 1977
A torrential rainstorm caused mucky conditions at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Both teams struggled mightily on offense over a long stretch, but the Vikings eventually came away with a 14-7 divisional playoff victory led by running back Chuck Foreman's 101 rushing yards.

George Long, WireImage

'Snow Plow Game' - Dolphins vs. Patriots - Dec. 12, 1982
In what remains one of the strangest game endings in history, Mark Henderson, a convict on work release, used his snow plow to clear an area where Patriots' John Smith booted the game-winning field goal. The Patriots won the game 3-0, despite the protests from Miami coach Don Shula.

Mike Kullen, AP

'Ice Bowl I' - Packers vs. Cowboys - Dec. 31, 1967
Packers quarterback Bart Starr (15) scored with 13 seconds left to beat the Cowboys 21-17 and wrap up a third straight NFL Championship for Green Bay. A total of 50,861 fans attended the coldest game in league history, in which the kickoff temperature was 13 below zero with a wind chill of minus 48.

'Frozen Fury' - Packers vs. Panthers - Jan. 12, 1997
Reggie White and the Packers welcomed Carolina to single-digit temperatures at Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship Game. Green Bay took advantage of the conditions to win 30-13 and end a Super Bowl drought that stretched back to the original Ice Bowl 29 years earlier.

John Doman / St Paul Pioneer Press / MCT

'Cleveland Whiteout' - Bills vs. Browns - Dec. 16, 2007
With wind gusts up to 40 mph blowing, it was literally snowing sideways at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Derek Anderson, seen here taking a dive, only managed 137 passing yards but still got to celebrate a win over the Bills in the first 8-0 game since 1929.

Tony Dejak, AP

'Sloppy Steel City' - Steelers vs. Dolphins - Nov. 27, 2007
It was a heinous showing at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football. The turf couldn't handle the heavy downpour and neither could the offenses, as both teams didn't score for over 59 minutes of the game. Pittsburgh won 3-0 on a field goal in the lowest scoring Monday Night Football game.

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

'Fans' Ice Attack' - Giants vs. Chargers - Dec. 23, 1995
Snowball fun turned dangerous when fans pummeled players, coaches, officials and photographers with chunks of ice in the Chargers' 27-17 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands. Officials threatened to call the game and fans faced a variety of charges after the barrage.

Bil Kostroun, AP

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 17)

12-21-2008 @ 2:32PM

gmen4evar said...

I have no problem with THIS penalty. It was classless and obnoxious seeing as the Patriots were blowing out the Cardinals at the time. Welker is a jerk.

12-21-2008 @ 3:16PM

Jim said...

Welker is a jerk? For making a snow angel? Pats are up 41-0...Arizona has a defense...let them stop the Pats

12-21-2008 @ 6:04PM

don said...

welker is a jerk?
youre talking about the patriots with a second string quarterback who never started a game since high school.
they DESERVE to celebrate and i dont see how snow angel is in any sense more unsportsman like conduct than any of other touchdown dances...

12-21-2008 @ 7:47PM

mark said...

Dont forget its a game, what are you a hater

12-21-2008 @ 8:55PM

tara said...

Give me a break...jealous. Its better than the obscene celebrations that go on in the end zone. Snow angel away my friend. Grow up you babies.

12-22-2008 @ 2:18PM

Jeanne said...

Why don't you bloggers get a life the game was boring Welker was only having a little fun I think the officials need to re examine their rules he did not harm tis the season and a good day to make snow angels.

12-21-2008 @ 9:06PM

Dino-of-NE said...

The ONLY JERK here is "gmen4evar"
Welker is a really class act!!

12-21-2008 @ 9:45PM

Wayne said...

Your a jerk for that comment. What has happened to people to assume that it was anything other than a snow angel in the snow made by a man who happens to be happy that he scored a touchdown. What happened to fun in the snow. Right away a jerk like you makes more of what it was.

12-21-2008 @ 9:42PM

Peetie38 said...

I am by no means a Pats fan but the NFL in general is obviously getting too carried away with penalties. They should ALL be able to celebrate a touchdown no matter the score. I am diehard Cowboys and celebrate 2,3 and 7 points alike.

12-21-2008 @ 9:47PM

Robin said...

PLEASE......what if it was a child's wish, to make an angel if he scored a touchdown? I loved it.
Pats Fan

12-21-2008 @ 10:23PM

Kate said...

So when a team is winning does that make everything "classless". Seriously I hate when people do this when their jealous that their team isn't as good.
And...I know it's so bad when a team is winning! I mean come on that's never a good thing! What's wrong with you?

12-21-2008 @ 10:43PM

brenda said...

Welker is a Jerk???
i unfortunately am just getting around to reading these blogs,,and first of all, i agree with most of the bloggers that having fun winning or not,,if you score anything at all you should be allowed to celebrate within reason. When hitting a home run baseball players don't get penalized for putting their fingers in the air, hockey players don't get penalized for kneeling and pumping their fists, so what's the problem w/a snow angel?? now if he had taken the time to make a snowman,,well then penalize him..GMEN get a life,,have some fun and relax..

12-21-2008 @ 10:41PM

Janaya said...

You seriously have problems. Welker deserved to have some fun, in fact, everyone playing should've had some fun. It was, and still is, gross out.
Snow angels should not be penalized, then everytime someone scores and does a stupid dance they should be penalized also.
NFL takes the fun out of the game half the time.

12-21-2008 @ 11:21PM

kim said...

Loved the snow angel. Living in the Carolinas now as a true yankee I was proud to see it. Go Wes Welker-luv ya and give some love to Matt Cassell as well. Get better Tom Brady so we can see some serious hating. If this is the best they've got....

12-22-2008 @ 12:11AM

kayla said...

welker a jerk? quit being jealous and get some holiday spirit, Scrooge. It was a snow angel for God's sake. You're lame.

12-24-2008 @ 11:41AM

ASP Rocks said...

Boo Hoo...Let's get this guy a Band-Aid for his bleeding heart. Stop picking on the poor Cardinals... please.

12-22-2008 @ 8:25AM

N.E.fan said...

Hell yeah they deserve to celebrate , a new QB , and they are doing good, go ahead guys make your snow angels, it doesnt hurt anyone.. They must be jeleous

12-22-2008 @ 8:51AM

mike hulgin said...

Hey, the guy was just havin some fun in the snow. What's the big deal ? Get over it already, can't players have fun in the No Fun League ? I guess they can't....

12-22-2008 @ 9:00AM

dave said...

Gmen-lighten up, it wasn't done to show anyone up, it was just for fun-and Welker is hardly a jerk-he's a quiet, repsectful player who puts it all out every week. I'd define a herk wide out as one who skips meetings, gets suspended from his team and shoots himself with an illegal hand guns as a jerk.
Funny when the Giants run up a score its OK, god forbid a struggling Patriots team continue to score...