Sports

Joe Horn of the New Orleans Saints celebrates with a cellphone after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants on Dec. 14, 2003, at the Superdome. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

NFL Slammed for Promoting Celebrations Players Were Punished Over

By Ross Kelly November 21, 2018 at 12:46pm

Over the last two seasons we’ve seen the NFL attempt to distance itself from the “No Fun League” moniker it earned by clamping down on player celebrations.

The league relaxed its rules on touchdown celebrations to allow players to do things like have group celebrations or use the football as a prop. Such celebrations resulted in penalties, fines and/or both prior to the 2017 season.

Even today players can’t use props other than the football, as that would result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Yet that’s not stopping the NFL from promoting celebrations from the past in which props were used.

The NFL created a new Twitter account called @GetYaPopcorn last week, and it has no problem promoting celebrations for which players were disciplined, USA Today noted.

The account calls former New Orleans Saints receiver Joe Horn “a legend” for his flip phone celebration during the 2003 season.

Joe Horn’s a legend for this one ??#GetYaPopcorn pic.twitter.com/KHRv2EXbwQ

— Get Ya Popcorn (@GetYaPopcorn) November 17, 2018

What was a 15-yard penalty and $30,000 fine back then is fair game for likes and views now.

Another example comes from Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chad Johnson, who was fined $5,000 in 2005 for using the pylon as a golf club and “putting” the football.

.@ochocinco found the end zone, then found the green ⛳️#GetYaPopcorn pic.twitter.com/Fpdh5vUpNQ

— Get Ya Popcorn (@GetYaPopcorn) November 18, 2018

Back then the NFL said the celebration “violated its policy against prolonged, excessive and premeditated displays.” Now it’s league-approved content for social media.

Get Ya Popcorn takes its name from the famous popcorn celebration of Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, whom the Twitter account called “One of the best to ever do it.”

One of the best to ever do it: @terrellowens ???#GetYaPopcorn pic.twitter.com/GElyufgFN4

— Get Ya Popcorn (@GetYaPopcorn) November 20, 2018

Never mind the fact that Owens frequently drew flags, fines and criticism for his unusual celebrations.

The hypocritical nature of the NFL now celebrating acts for which players were disciplined (and would still be disciplined) is obvious.

Unbelievable.
The league once punished dudes for this now they’re monetizing it. https://t.co/RTs4IBvKJV

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) November 21, 2018

Maybe the league should return some of that money to the players it fined.

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