Celebration penalties are up sharply in NFL games this season. The league says it has not changed its rules but has made excessive celebration a “point of emphasis,” essentially asking officials to pay extra attention to enforcing existing rules.
When Andrew Hawkins of the Cleveland Browns caught a touchdown pass against the New England Patriots in Week 5, his reaction was unexpected. He came to a stop, then stiffly placed the football on the turf and robotically walked away.
The mechanical performance, Hawkins later acknowledged, was in response to the NFL’s growing crackdown on what it considers to be excessive celebrations.