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(Mike Triplett)

The “No Fun League” strikes again.

The goal-post dunk will now be prohibited by the NFL -- a deflating rule change that might only be considered a victory for helpless crossbars around the country. As for the players and fans around the league, the rule elicited a resounding groan.

No team will be more affected by the rule than the New Orleans Saints. Not only will Saints fans miss out on Jimmy Graham’s trademark touchdown celebration roughly 12-to-15 times a year, they’ll also miss out on those fun occasions where Graham goads his buddy Drew Brees into proving he can still slam the ball over the crossbar despite Brees' 6-foot frame. Graham tweeted out a photo of an in-season dunk being blocked by a ghostly ref with the comment, "I guess I'll have to lead the @nfl in penalties next year! #funpolice," but subsequently deleted the tweet.

Listen, I do understand the reason for this particular rule. I was there in Atlanta last season when one of Graham’s power jams tilted the crossbar and forced a delay of game while workers came out with a super-sized level. Maybe that’s not the kind of drama that football fans are looking for.

But how about this? Let’s only penalize the players when they actually bend the goal posts. Make it a dunk-at-your-own-risk rule.

Really, I’m not that worked up about the rule change (my personal campaign for the last decade has been to remove the archaic chain system for measuring first downs). But I'm more surprised than anything by the NFL's hasty reaction to last year's "goalpost malfunction."

I find it almost shocking that a league that spent weeks promoting its new Pro Bowl format by trying to show off the personalities of stars such as Brees and Graham is now trying to mute those same personalities.

Of all the positive rule changes being discussed at the league meetings this week -- including a much-needed revamp of the replay system -- this is what’s getting the most attention?

This rule change can’t be a top priority for the NFL, can it?

I’m not sure where I’d draw the line with touchdown celebrations. Personally, I got a kick out of Saints receiver Lance Moore’s rendition of the “Hingle McGringleberry” touchdown celebration from the comedy show “Key & Peele” last season. But I know others whose opinion that I respect were turned off by it.

I also covered Terrell Owens in San Francisco while he was raising his arms through the hole in the roof on the middle of the Dallas Cowboys’ field and when he pulled out the Sharpie from his sock in Seattle. I covered Joe Horn in Louisiana shortly after he pulled out a hidden cellphone from behind a goal post.

I’ll be the first to admit that some of those were more clever than others. And I understand the league doesn’t want to start reviewing them on a case-by-case basis. They’d have to hire Simon Cowell to work in the league office. (Would Cowell’s decisions be reviewable?)

So I’m well aware that there should be some limit to the theatrics.

But the NFL is the most popular, most booming sport in America. They do a lot of things the right way when it comes to marketing their game. And it’s remarkable that they keep allowing that “No Fun League” critique to ring true time and time again.

Someone should throw a flag.
'No Fun League' lives up to its name - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

hagan714

goal post has nothing to with it i bet. i am sure this is all about protecting the investment and all the rest is window dressing.

10 more years of this type of crap and they may just wreck the game all together.

Srgt. Hulka

They didn't say anything about lay-ups.

Euphoria

Now here is what concerns me... The Packers Lambeau Leap.

Aren't they aware that a player jumping into the stand opens them up to being stabbed by a so called fan. Look what happened at that tennis match years ago.

Hell a fan could get hurt and sue.

I mean delay a game penalty if the goal post needs to be adjusted and it delays the game... I get and understand that but what about these other risky celebrations???

TheOak

A 30 second block of advertisement during an NFL game costs roughly $500k.

How long did it take to fix it? 5 minute minimum? That's $2.5m in air time.

What did it expose? No one thought Grahams dunks would tilt the goal post, when it did the possibility that the next one could have the goal post go over and hit a player became plausible.

Its all about $ and liability.

Papa Voodoo

Barry Sanders' TDs were fun to watch and he didn't do any of this crap.

Srgt. Hulka

That's because Barry Sanders was just fun to watch, touchdown or no touchdown. Jimmy Graham is not that fun to watch run. It's fun to watch him catch a ball three feet over the defender's head, but running...meh.
I have to agree though, a good old fashion spike is good enough for me.

WhoDat!656

On one of the sport shows they said the reason it is being banned is because the goal post is being used as a prop.

If that is the case then spiking the ball will be next on the list.

Rugby Saint II

Wait, you can spike the ball and not get fined? Godhell better do something about that.

OldMaid

Dunking the ball can result in shaking the goal post lose and causing it to fall and causing to ...oh brother!

Can a player just throw it over?

I thought if a player spiked the ball it was already a penalty and cut out by the NFL.