The NFL is quickly gaining a reputation for being the No Fun League as they recently passed a pair of rule proposals that will outlaw dunking the goal posts in celebration for the 2014/15 season… but there is a good reason for it.
According to the NFL’s Vice President of Officiating, Dean Blandino, dunking the football through the goalposts, or ‘using the goal post or crossbar as a prop’, will become illegal just in time for the 2014/15 season.
“That was grandfathered in. We put in a rule about five or six years ago about using the ball as a prop,” Blandino said.
“We grandfathered in the Lambeau Leap and some things like that. But dunking will come out. Using the ball as a prop – or using any object as a prop, like the goal post or cross bar – that will come out and that will be a foul next season.”
While the move has upset certain fans and players, like New Orleans Saint’s TE Jimmy Graham (pictured below engaging in the now illegal dunk celebration), the rule does actually have a valid point…
Graham actually bent the posts in the Georgia Dome last season while celebrating a touch down against the Atlanta Falcons and it led to a very long and annoying delay for all involved.
Oooops! pic.twitter.com/LXsSniOF7C
— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) November 22, 2013
Still, the new ruling doesn’t look like it’s going to stop Graham from dunking anytime soon.
I guess I’ll have to lead the @nfl in penalties next year! #funpolice pic.twitter.com/ruX1TBarzC
— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) March 25, 2014
