NFL Rule Change: Officials To Penalize Players Who Dunk On The Crossbar

Dec 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) celebrates a touchdown reception against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Next season there will be no dunking on the cross bar….without penalty. The NFL is basically extending the rule about using props during touchdown celebrations such as the football. So Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints will have to find another way to celebrate next season if he doesn’t want to cost his team with a 15 yard penalty.

According to an article on NFL.com, NFL’s VP of officiating explained the NFL rule change on the Dan Patrick show.

"Just in time for Tony Gonzalez’s retirement, the NFL is doing away with the future Hall of Famer’s patented post-touchdown dunk celebration.NFL’s vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told the “Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday that dunking over the crossbar will be penalized, starting in the 2014 season.There has been a rule in place against using the football as a prop in celebrations. Penalizing dunks is an enforcement of the existing rule, as opposed to a new rule on the books.“We grandfathered in some, the Lambeau Leap and things like that. But dunking will come out,” Blandino said. “Using the ball as a prop or any object as a prop, whether that’s the goal post, the crossbar, that will come out and that will be a foul next season.”"