Choreographed celebrations after big plays in the NFL have "given fans a glimpse of what their favorite players are really like and ... have helped chip away at the NFL’s reputation as the stodgy 'No Fun League,'" according to Nancy Armour of USA TODAY. The creative demonstrations are "easily the highlight of the season." One of the biggest criticisms of the NFL in recent years has been its "refusal to let its hair down and have a little fun." The NFL "caved, announcing in May that it was relaxing its penalties for choreographed celebrations." Finally given the freedom to "let their humor and creativity show, players have embraced it wholeheartedly." With the new rules, the Lions have "played Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots." The Chiefs "had a potato sack race," and the Packers "climbed into a bobsled." Instead of teams "running out of ideas, the celebrations are only getting better as the season goes on." NBC's Cris Collinsworth said, "We see these young people for what they are. They’re in their 20s, they’re fun-loving, social media, all that kind of stuff. So we get a chance to meet them. ... But those celebrations have let us see young kids having fun with football. And I love watching it. I really do" (USA TODAY, 11/27). SI.com's Khadrice Rollins noted more teams now are "executing group celebrations at a higher level" than when the season started. Teams are "trying to show off their creativity when it comes to celebrations now." The best celebration after last week was "courtesy of the Eagles defense." After forcing what was effectively a "game-ending interception" by CB Rasul Douglas, the team decided to "break out into an organized group line dance." The only problem was that the interception was "reviewed and called an incomplete pass." Rollins: "When the Eagles got another interception six plays later ... they went right back to the Electric Slide" (SI.com, 11/26).
NO DANCING ALLOWED! WFAN’s Mike Francesa yesterday railed against touchdown celebrations, noting the NFL is "allowing such garbage in the end zone now, it’s hard to know what’s allowed and not allowed even for an individual player." He said, "Soon we’re going to have choreographers for these things." The NFL is "trying to act like they are allowing their players to express themselves having fun," but it has "really turned that into just a bunch of garbage in the end zone." Francesa: "That’s not football. It annoys the heck out of me. ... What are we watching here? ‘Sesame Street’ or are we watching the NFL?” This “cannot be what this league wants" (“The Mike Francesa Show,” WFAN-AM, 11/27). ESPN’s Shawne Merriman said the celebrations early in the season were "cool," but “enough is enough” now. Merriman: “I’m over it. How much time are you going to spend together trying to have (these celebrations)?” ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley said he enjoys ‘spontaneity” in the celebrations, but the choreography involved now is the “same corny thing.” Wiley: “This is a Jedi mind trick by the NFL that said, ‘Oh, ya’ll want to celebrate? We’re going to let you celebrate to the point where you’re not going to want to celebrate.’ They’re at a tipping point right now” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 11/27).
