It took until Week 6, but the Steelers were flagged for post-touchdown shenanigans.
Running back Le’Veon Bell scored on a 3-yard carry of the first play of the second quarter Sunday at Kansas City, and he celebrated by getting into a boxing match with the goalpost.
Le'Veon Bell punching a goal post after scoring a TD resulted in a 15-yard penalty. pic.twitter.com/tKOZfQF9WG
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) October 15, 2017
Shortly thereafter, Bell was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, excessive celebration. Yes, it’s still a penalty in the NFL, even as the league relaxed some of its touchdown celebration rules in the offseason.
The guess here is that Bell ran afoul of the opaque provisions against using the goalpost as a prop. As an NFL ref explained to the Washington Post during training camp, players may shoot a ball over it or dunk through it, but not hang on it, thus converting it into a prop. Bell didn’t hang on the goalpost, of course, but it’s hard to be surprised about any flag under such convoluted guidelines.
It’s also possible, if he was a real stickler, that the ref interpreted the act as violent in nature. Such celebrations were banned before and remain so now.
If the NFL chooses to fine Bell for the celebration, we may get a proper explanation for the penalty this week. The good news for the Steelers? The defense got a stop on the ensuing Kansas City possession, so the flag didn’t come back to bite them.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: October 15, 2017, 9:31 p.m.
