Stop NFL Celebrations sign now

To: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue

NFL players celebrating their actions on the field has become a distraction to the game.

We used to see players celebrate great TD catches, big QB sacks and interceptions. They now celebrate after holding the running back to 1 yard, knocking down a pass intended for a wideout, and catching a 6 yard screen pass for a first down.

We used to see players celebrate when they excelled and were the difference in a game. They now celebrate seconds after making a bad play, in the midst of an otherwise poor game. Linemen celebrate upon stopping the running back at the line, just after getting pancaked at the start of a 45 yard run the previous play. Wideouts celebrate upon catching an easy 12 yard pass during a drive that saw them drop the ball in the endzone. Defensive backs celebrate when the receiver drops a poorly thrown ball while being chased by them, during a game where the same receiver found the endzone twice. The context of a celebration is completely lost.

We used to see high fives, teams gathering in a circle, and a lot of jumping up and down. We now see comedy skits, stand up routines, and choreographed dance moves from men way too big to be displaying such maneuvers. Whats next? Players using the stadium PA system to rap and address the competition and fans?

Before your league turns into the NBA, and players take the spotlight away from teams and games- do something about it!

Impose stiffer penalties and start handing out suspensions. Or just implement a judging system, where the more points you score for technical merit and artistic impression of a celebration, the more yards your team is penalized for on the next play. Having to kick an extra point from your own 45, or facing a 1st and Goal from your own 5 just after sacking the QB for a 8 yard loss, might get things headed in the right direction.