There is a very long-standing tradition of sports athletes expressing their faith during the game they play. After a home run, numerous baseball players can be seen looking to the sky and pointing to the heavens to thank God. It used to be a common sight to see Tim Tebow bow on one knee to thank God for a brief moment in his triumph.
There is also a very long-standing tradition in the game of football for touchdown celebrations. Sometimes these are a simple spike of the football, a Lambeau Leap, the Icky Shuffle, Victor Cruz Salsa dancing, dunking the football on the goalpost, or scene reenactments.
However, the NFL has been trying to crack down on end-zone celebrations, and it’s been a bit of a gray area where the line is between celebration and excessive celebration.
The NFL found themselves answering that question and lots of others Monday night when the Kansas City Chiefs played the New England Patriots. Late in the game, defensive back, Husain Abdullah, a devout Muslim, intercepted a pass by Tom Brady and ran it back for a touchdown. Abdullah slid to his knees and dropped to a prayer position. He was then flagged for excessive celebration.
Needless to say, social media went crazy over the penalty, citing an extreme double standard by the league’s excessive penalty rules. The rules actually do allow for a sign of prayer in celebration, but since Abdullah was penalized, it appears he was targeted for his religion of choice, which was the first showing of its kind in any NFL celebration.
The NFL quickly responded to the public outcry, and they seem to have a good explanation for the penalty. In the referees defense who threw the flag, he was further away from Abdullah and on the other side of several players. To him, it appeared that Abdullah slid into a ground celebration, which is considered excessive according to the rules. In that split second of judgment, he threw the flag, not realizing that Abdullah was actually sliding into a prayer position.
The NFL also released a statement saying that Abdullah should not have received the penalty. Let’s hope Abdullah gets another chance for a pick-six and is able to express a moment of prayer in celebration again. Maybe with less slide to avoid any confusion.
