Josh Norman will mime drinking beer to prove his point about the NFL
In an NFL season that has pegged the league against its players in so many ways, Josh Norman is ready to fire one of the biggest and boldest shots yet.
The NFL flagged and fined Norman in Week 4 for his bow-and-arrow celebration, which "mimicked a violent act," according to the league's strict touchdown celebration rules. Last week, the Washington Redskins defensive back criticized the NFL, calling it a double standard for the league to keep celebrations PG while the game is flooded with alcohol advertisements.
Norman is about to challenge that double standard, head on.
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Speaking with reporters after practice on Thursday, Norman hinted at plans for a celebration he'll unveil this weekend against Detroit.
“I’ll say this,” Norman said. “Since they sell beer on TV while kids are watching it, I’m thinking I might open a keg on the field, and I’m going to drink it on the field. And I don’t see that being on the rule book.”
According to For The Win, Norman gave reporters a sneak peak at the move, miming lifting a keg above his head and drinking from it. When asked what he would do if people didn't quite understand his celebration, Norman said he would explain it after the game.
Regarding the rule book, Norman might actually be right. The clarified list of forbidden touchdown celebrations, released a couple weeks ago, includes mimicking a violent act, sexually suggestive dancing, choreographed celebrations, prolonged celebrations, spiking the ball, going to the ground, using the ball as a prop or using any other props.
There's nothing about alcohol, although it's not unfeasible officials could consider his imaginary keg a "prop," and could rule his celebration "excessive."
Regardless, Norman apparently intends to prove a larger point.
"I mean, you’re selling ads on TV, so why can’t my celebration be legal?" Norman said. "It’s a catch-22, man. These guys are serious.”
Norman's willingness to stand up to the NFL is bold, but feels inevitable.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins mocked the league's celebration rules last week, and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown's multiple flags this year forced the NFL to clarify its rules. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman blasted the NFL last month for not protecting its players. Teams' social media accounts are even making subtle jabs at the NFL's ridiculous social media policies.
It was only a matter of time before someone went toe-to-toe with the league, and it looks like Norman is about to fire an arrow right at them.
