Rules truly are rules in the NFL. To the league’s credit, they don’t allow exceptions. When Roger Goodell and his people pass a new rule, they stick to it. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing attire that supports 9/11 victims or saluting the troops through celebration. If it violates the rules that are in place, it’s going to draw a flag or a fine. Eric Decker got a taste of that on Sunday when he dropped to one knee and saluted the American veterans, which of course was against the rules because he went to the ground to celebrate.
The penalty prompted Decker to tweet the following after the game: “Thinking on the plane…sad to an excessive celebration penalty for saluting the men and women in the military on Veteran’s Weekend! As you might remember, Jared Allen was forced to change his entire sack celebration once the rule was put into place.
While it may seem absurd to not make an exception for someone who is paying a tribute to our veterans, the NFL has to tread along a fine line. If they allow one person to do it, every person after that could claim they were supporting the troops or veterans with their celebration. Unfortunately it’s a slippery slope and there’s not much the league can do about it.
Thanks to @jordanmocny for the picture
