As the NFL slowly works to eradicate hard hits and physicality from the game, it also wants to eliminate the often obnoxious but usually entertaining celebrations that can provide water cooler fodder following Sunday’s action.
Celebrations and acts deemed as “taunting” will be further scrutinized and more often penalized in the upcoming 2013 season, and officials are already preparing players for the crackdown.
The following are acts deemed to fall within this category and be subject to a 15 yard penalty: “sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball;spinning the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing theball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent(prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.”
Greater enforcement this season is likely to rob some teams of field position, fans of some fun, and players a chance to show off their dance moves. For now, it seems that players may be forced to go the route of many others and try their hand at “Dancing with the Stars” if they feel the need to express themselves in such a way.
Regarding the “military salute,” players will only be penalized if the “salute” is directed at another player. Players like Houston’s J.J. Watt, who honors the military with a “salute” after a sack, will reportedly not be penalized.
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