Hussain Abdullah penalty for post-TD prayer

[masterfins]

I think the NFL should have penalized every single player who has dropped to a knee. It's in the rule book you can't celebrate while on the ground.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/15_Rule12_Player_Conduct.pdf

(d) Individual players involved in prolonged or excess
ive celebrations. Players are prohibited from
engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A c
elebration shall be deemed excessive or
prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a wa
rning from an official.

 Note 5: Violations of (d) will be penalized if the
y occur anywhere on the field other than the bench are
a.

This official followed the rule book.

I don't think what he did was prolonged or excessive.  Furthermore, had he been warned by an official??

[Brian Fein]

I always felt like the "no celebrating on the ground" rule was to prevent snow angels, doing the worm, etc.  I don't consider dropping to a knee, or even two knees, the same as "celebrating on the ground"

[Phishfan]

I don't think what he did was prolonged or excessive.  Furthermore, had he been warned by an official??

Different things. #1 A player is prohibited from celebrating on the ground #2 a celebration is excessive or prolonged if continued after a warning.

I'm fine if the NFL didn't throw a flag but the ref threw one, and did so according to the writing in the rule book. If there is a clarifying factor it needs to be written. Just as I say in baseball, unwritten rules aren't actually rules. Written ones are.

[Spider-Dan]

I doubt the NFL re-wrote the rule on illegal contact in 2014 this year; they just told the officials how they wanted that rule interpreted and enforced.  Similarly, the NFL has told the officials that the going to the ground rule shall be interpreted not to apply to prayer.  He went to the ground and prayed, so (by letter of rule) either you give all praying players penalties, or you apply the exception to Abdullah as well.

[Dave Gray]

You can't go to the ground.  It's simple.  Why would prayer be allowed?  How would prayer be protected in the endzone different than doing the worm?

[Phishfan]

He went to the ground and prayed, so (by letter of rule) either you give all praying players penalties, or you apply the exception to Abdullah as well.

And I think I've stated my position clearly that all players should be penalized. It is the rule and is written as such.

[Brian Fein]

back up further....

Why isn't going to the ground allowed?  Is it any less sportsmanlike to make a snow angel than it is to spike the ball and do the ickey shuffle?  I just don't see why celebrations on the ground are specifically disallowed, while all standing celebrations are perfectly fine.

I hope the NFL retroactively penalizes Brandon Marshall for every TD he celebrated on his knees in the end zone.

[Cathal]

I just want them to be able to celebrate however they want so long as they don't destroy anything (ie Goal posts).

[Dave Gray]

Why isn't going to the ground allowed?  Is it any less sportsmanlike to make a snow angel than it is to spike the ball and do the ickey shuffle? 

The Ickey Shuffle is also not allowed.

[Brian Fein]

Seriously?  That blows.

[Phishfan]

^^^ Perfect example of how limiting celebrations is not "killing the game" since it wasn't even missed.

[Sunstroke]

The Ickey Shuffle is also not allowed.

Except in the grocery store deli...

"Whooo, gettin' me some cold cuts!!"

[Dave Gray]

Seriously?  That blows.

Yeah, but they banned that back when he was still playing.  He used to do it in the endzone.  Then he had to do it on the sideline behind his own bench.

[Brian Fein]

yet, years later, Deion Sanders was allowed to do his ridiculous little high-stepping dance after every touchdown as well?

[mecadonzilla]

yet, years later, Deion Sanders was allowed to do his ridiculous little high-stepping dance after every touchdown as well?

Well, technically, it was before the touchdown was scored.  And as Devin Hester learned against the Bucs the week before last, it will draw a penalty.