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In an effort to suck all the spontaneity and excitement out the game, the league ruled this week that it is now illegal for players to dunk the football over the goal posts.
I guess I'll have to lead the @nfl in penalties next year! #funpolice pic.twitter.com/MQRFXgvaGN
— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) March 25, 2014
The official reason: One time last season a dunk resulted in a 20-minute delay while the field crew had to level the crossbar.
Not surprisingly, the new rule was met with skepticism from both players, fans and us, who wonder if this is simply a case of the league discriminating against fat players (Seriously, what's more exciting than FAT GUYS DUNKING?).
Rams coach Jeff Fisher is co-chair of the NFL competition committee and he's already getting an earful from fans.
“I was going through the airport leaving Orlando yesterday, going through security, and this guy was just wearing me out on the ‘No Fun League,’ Fisher told Mike & Mike (via PFT). "Are you kidding me? He’s saying, ‘No Fun League! They should be allowed to dunk!’ And I’m like, ‘Then go to a bar and watch a basketball game. This is football.’”
Fisher is playing right into Mark Cuban's hands. Back on Earth...
In the scheme of things, the no-dunking rule isn't a big deal. While we enjoy watching guys like Donald Penn throw it down, it doesn't require much in the way of athleticism for Jimmy Graham or Vernon Davis.
Oh, right. Upside: Davis never has to worry about getting rim-checked again.
"[Dunking] was grandfathered in," NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino told the Dan Patrick Show Tuesday. "We put in a rule about five or six years ago about using the ball as a prop. We grandfathered in the Lambeau Leap and some things like that. But dunking will come out. Using the ball as a prop -- or using any object as a prop, like the goal post or cross bar -- that will come out and that will be a foul next season."
No word on if phantom jump shots or layups remain legal.
