Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins report that the new head of NFL officiating wants the “calf roping” routine stopped:
An NFL spokesman confirmed Sunday that the league has informed Allen and the Vikings that the All-Pro defensive end will be penalized and possibly fined if he performs his “calf roping” celebration after a sack. FOX Sports first reported the story.
The league prohibits players from going to the ground in celebrations. After sacks, Allen takes a knee, pretends to rope a calf and then throws his arms in the air. Allen presumably can still perform his celebration as long as he’s standing on his feet.
Allen has performed his post-sack celebration for years so it’s curious the league is threatening punishment now. Asked about the new stance, a league spokesman wrote in an e-mail: “That is how the new head of officiating wants it enforced.”
It is odd that something that’s been okay for Allen’s entire career is suddenly singled out as having been in violation of the rules for all this time. If this trend continues, how long will it be before any celebration by the players will draw an unsportsmanlike penalty?
