I have to say... if you going to do shiz like that, you better be a damn good player. Joe Horn was really good for a couple of years... but he, and rest of the Saints really, have been disappointing this year.
No way I was watching it on a big screen, that was a great phone! Color screen and everything. I mean it's one of those 300 dollar phones, nothing fancy for the superstars (which Joe Horn isn't) but it's a good phone. It's not one of those 50000 dollar titanium ones though
Yeah, I've actually seen that one more than once over the past few weeks. I think Chad Johnson of the Benglas originally came up with the idea.
I miss the days of Barry Sanders when the star player would simply hand the ball to the official. I feel these antics go againist the word "sportsmanship"
To me it is clear. There are TWO kinds of scenarios. There is TAUNTING and there is CELEBRATION. Here is how I define them.... TAUNTING = players saying things to opposing players. Players making gestures TOWARDS opposing players, doing the cut throat move, talking to the other bench, standing over a player after they have been drilled. etc. This is WRONG. TAUNTING. CELEBRATION = players spiking the ball. Doing flips, moonwalks etc, high fives, the fun bunch, dirty bird, bob and weave, Icky shuffle, electric slide etc etc. These are harmless (as long as they arent done TOWARDS another player such as spiking the ball at the oponents feet or something). These fun expressions are just players celebrating with their fans and their teammates on their success. Players celebrating with their TEAMMATES, not towards the opponent. CELEBRATION. The phone incident and sharpie incident fall into the CELEBRATION category as in BOTH instances they WERE NOT done TOWARDS the opposing player. Neither of them should be fined nor should a flag be thrown. This is the problem with the NFL, they can't seem to see the difference between the two categories and thus why a lot of these players get fined. Part of the fun of the game is seeing the indivduality of the players. I enjoy seeing players celebrate their accomplishments. I don't enjoy TAUNTING. I really think there is a difference here. CELEBRATION and TAUNTING. Having fun by yourself or with your teammates OR making comments, actions TOWARDS your opponent. My two cents.
Deuce, but you must consider the time that is used to celebrate and the fact that they hid a cell phone in and on NFL property. I didn't see the 'celebration' in question, but how long did it take them to find the phone in the goal post padding? How long did it take him to 'make the call'? If it was longer than doing the electric slide, then it was a disturbance/hinderance more than a celebration. Regardless, the point of the matter is that you have a grown, 31 year old man, acting like a kid out there, 'making cell phone calls' during playing time. You wanna dance, spin the ball, spike the ball... fine, but what's next... pulling a sofa and tv out of the tunnel and sitting in the endzone to watch your replay?
I think using "props" to celebrate is another form of taunting. There used to be a penalty, other than taunting, called "excessive celebration". Celebration, when taken too far, is taunting and it also becomes detrimental to the league's image. And the NFL has the right to fine players who choose to embarass the NFL in the national spotlight by acting like little children and putting themselves above the league and everyone else.
Regardless of your opinion as to whether or not is was bad sportsmanship, it was stupid football. The score was 17-7 after the TD and the subsequent penalty caused the Saints to kick off from the 20. Fortunately for them, the Giants offense was too inept to take advantage of the situation.
The Saints should pay whatever fine he gets. Who was gonna pay any attention to the Saints highlights until Horn did this? I agree with Deuce, if your not taunting, then it's fine. Who cares how long it takes? Your watch the games to be entertained. To me, that was entertaining.
The game is what's entertaining, not lame self promotion - which is what it was, not celebration, not part of the game. If that is an example of what the fans really like, then the xfl would have been a huge success. I don't think he will, but it'd be nice if Horn got suspended to really discourage that type of ****. It's no wonder the NFL has these rules in place with the clowns in their league.
Horn, Duckett, Johnson, and Owens all looked ridiculous on Sunday. I hope they all are punished to the full extent of the "NFL laws." What next? Is someone going to pull out their penis to show the world how big it is? Isn't that what all this showboating pretty much amounts too?
The NFL put these rules in place so when someone does something politcally incorrect (Throat Slash) they can do what is neccessary. Anything that gets extra press is a good. Any PR guy will tell you that the only bad press is no press. And they have to make it a blanket policy as well to avoid the inevitable law suit that come down if only certain instances were fined. And what is wrong with self promotion? Is the NFL gonna promote Joe Horn when he blows a knee? I don't think so. He is gonna make as big a name as he can for himself and cash in. Don't be suprised if he has a Sprint endorsement sometime soon. And good for him if he does. And the XFL didn't fail because the format was bad, it failed the games sucked. I thought the sideshow stuff was pretty fun. You need performance and show. Do you think the cheerleaders are there to help with game plan?
Say what you will about Joe Horn. But it is HIS photo that is the MAIN image on ESPN.com this morning. Smart Marking move on his part? You betcha. The media certainly isn't denouncing these actions by promoting them are they? Chad Johnson of the Bengals is said to have stored away a set amount of money this year for NFL fines for his celebrations. He will pay them. But he will REAP the rewards later with more PRESS which will in turn get him more endoresement deals and more people will know about him with regards to the Pro Bowl and such. It is all about entertainment.
It's a shame that these players put themselves above their teams. One of these days, one of the celebration penalties will help cost a team a game and eventually a playoff spot.
