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Two Rules to Change

As I sat and watched the Rodgers led Packers dismantle the hapless Vikings last night I was struck by the fact that the NFL has no clue how to write or enforce rules of the game.

A rule is defined as a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure. They have been created to bring some order to an otherwise chaotic world. The NFL in their infinite wisdom has created two rules that bring chaos to the game instead of order.

The first one is the excessive celebration penalty. What exactly is excessive celebration and who determines exactly what excessive celebration is? I have watched game after game of players getting called for excessive celebration for spiking the ball or dancing in the endzone. I've also seen these same things not be called excessive celebration. So what exactly is excessive celebration when it comes to a football game? In the case of the Packer Viking game I would think the infamous Lambeau leap would constitute excessive celebration, afterall the players are actually leaving the playing field and partying with the commoners.

The second rule is intentional grounding. If a QB is in the pocket he cannot throw the ball away unless there is a receiver close by but if that same QB moves outside some imaginary lines of the pocket and throw the ball away it is not called intentional grounding. Who thought of this one! Throwing the ball away is throwing the ball away whether you are in the pocket or not. In the game last night Rodgers clearly threw the ball away with nary a receiver in sight but didn't get called either time because he supposedly was outside of the pocket.

It is time to change these and other NFL rules. My proposal if they insist on having excessive celebration then anything aside from handing the ball to a ref constitutes excessive celebration. Or just do away with this stupid rule. As for intentional grounding. Define it better, if the QB throws the ball away even out of bounds it is intentionally grounding regardless whether they are in the pocket or not.

I would like to hear your thoughts.
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Comments

Mel said…
I think you're talking like a lawyer... :)

I think the excessive celebration rule was brought about with good intentions - to keep players from obscene, lewd or disrespectful behavior in celebration. After all, we want athletic events to be family environments. Nevertheless, the rule is not clearly defined and certainly needs more specific guidelines if it is to be followed. I fail to see the difference between Jerod Allen "hog-tying" after a QB sack and the "Lambeau Leap." As you said, if one is excessive, certainly so is the other. But banning either seems to be pretty unnecessary if the purpose is curtailing the aforementioned "bad" behavior.

As for intentional grounding. That rule is just stupid. :)
11:07 PM, November 15, 2011
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