For years, the NFL’s strict rules surrounding touchdown celebrations have led fans and players alike to refer to the league as the “No Fun League.”
That branding was almost applicable again in the Detroit Lions’ season-opening win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
After Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a first-quarter touchdown pass to open the scoring, he did the famed Hingle McCringleberry celebration dance from sketch comedy show Key and Peele.
One of the jokes in the sketch is about how the player did too many “pumps” during his celebration, leading to a flag. According to St. Brown on his podcast, that exact scenario nearly played out in Kansas City.
“I hit it, boom, no flag, I get to the sideline, sit down, celebrate boom. And then my receiver coach (Antwaan Randle-El) is like, ‘Hey St., one more time and they said we’re gonna throw the flag.’ I’m like ‘It’s done now I got it off. Ain’t no more pumps.’ Apparently, the ref told our head coach that if he does one more pump, then we’ll throw the flag.”
It’ll be interesting to see if St. Brown retires the celebration or brings it back at some point this season, adjusting the number of pumps. St. Brown and the Lions return to action Sunday when they host the Seattle Seahawks.
