By Pat McInally
Special to NFL.com

(Dec. 15, 2003) -- The saying goes, "There is no 'I' in team."
But, unfortunately, there is an "m" and an "e."
That's about all we're seeing in the NFL nowadays. Whether it's an idiotic episode provided by Terrell Owens (too many to mention), last night's cell-phone incident provided by Joe Horn, or Chad Johnson holding up a message to the cameras, players see the field as an individual stage, not the ensemble or team-dominated production it was created to be.

Many people are tired of guys dancing around after a sack (often when they've been unblocked), running away from their teammates to get some separation for the cameras. I'm sick of the end-zone dances after some guy scores a touchdown (often untouched because of superior blocking, a perfect pass or a great play call). I'm disgusted with the taunting as players slow down to celebrate on their way to scoring or the fools who spin the ball after making an easy catch (doing what they're paid to do), most often at a level I see Pop Warner players capable of replicating.

Give me the Colts' Marvin Harrison all day long. He makes more spectacular plays and more basic catches and runs than anyone else. And, when he's done, he just tosses the ball to the ref and returns to the huddle or sideline. Jerry Rice was much the same. I guess guys like Horn, Owens, Keyshawn Johnson, Chad Johnson and the rest of the players who invent ways to get a little attention must believe they need to do it because their play just isn't exciting enough.

Why has the NFL taken such a docile approach to this ever-escalation degradation of the sport many of us love? What happened to the hard-line approach used to stop Mark Gastineau's "sack dance" in the '80s? Why are these undisciplined, self-centered, overrated, overpaid individuals being allowed to use the game this way?

I agreed with Joe Theismann last night when he said after the Horn incident that the league should fine him $100,000 -- that maybe it would force some of these classless guys to learn a lesson that might teach them to at least think about finding some class.

The problem is, fines don't really have an impact on players anymore, what with multi-million dollar salaries. In fact, after the game, Horn said he expected the league to fine him $10,000 to 15,000, but that it was worth it.

Where I disagree with Theismann is that this is just re-enforcing the individual element of the problem. Fining the player only punishes that individual.

No, here's what I think should happen: The player should be kicked out of the game, suspended for another week, fined a large amount and the team assessed a 15-yard penalty when players celebrate excessively after making a play. Players will get in line only if the league makes it clear this conduct will not be tolerated and backs it with severe penalties. And, coaches and teammates will sit on offenders if it starts costing them games.

This is a team game, and, ironically, the game has always been marketed and viewed as such. Sadly (but successfully), the NBA has managed to market individuals -- not teams -- to fill their seats and boost meager television ratings (it wasn't the Bulls, it was Michael and Scottie; it isn't the Lakers, it's Shaq, Kobe, the Mailman and the Glove). Major League Baseball always has relied heavily on statistics and individual records (300-game winners, 500-home-run hitters, batting titles, home-run record chases) to excite fans.

Football, alone -- and most successfully of all -- has always pushed its teams, its rivalries and its champions above all else. It always has been the game; the understanding that for an individual to make a great play, his teammates have enabled him to do it.

I remember talking to the late, great Green Bay Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke. He was so angry at the antics displayed by some guy after making a sack. Ray said, "Look at that jerk -- he came in unblocked and is jumping around, pounding his chest as if he's actually done something. When I made an interception, I knew it was because the defensive line had put pressure on the quarterback and the defensive backs had smothered the receivers. I just got the ball because we all did our jobs."

Come on, NFL, bring back the game and flush this individual-celebration, egocentric, undisciplined, embarrassing and destructive behavior down the toilet. Sure, entertainment is great, but the beauty of teamwork, sacrifice and humility are much more appealing -- and important.

Explaining to kids that football is the greatest team sport is a tough sell when they see individuals consistently placing themselves above the team. The best fans -- the real fans -- want to watch and support great teams, with talented players making spectacular plays within the game, but, ultimately, doing their jobs to help their team win games and championships.

Getting on SportsCenter should never have seeped into the equation.