Should Rams' Stedman Bailey be fined for his 'nap' celebration?

[rhinobean]

Not only JJ...but also the call on Tru...even though it was offset due to the holding call.

The NFL has HANDCUFFED the DB long enough!!! As I've said...being a DB is *just about* become the art of letting the WR run down the field with no contact and just being in a position to tackle them.

It beyond ridiculous...they've given the clear advantage to the WR!

I know JJ got the penalty because it's part of the rules because I saw in called again on Sun. night but it's a bs call when the db doesn't make contact before the ball gets there! It was just one of the calls made and not made yesterday that pisses me off about the officials!

 

[LACHAMP46]

Sounds like Fisher got on that celebration...see around the 8 min mark

http://www.rams-news.com/jeff-fishers-monday-press-conference-video/

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...is-a-good-excuse-to-take-a-nap-004421180.html


Look, we get it: playing football is tiring work. But perhaps the field of play is not the best place for a nap, am I right?

Stedman Bailey of the St. Louis Rams had just scored on a pass from Nick Foles to help the Rams to a victory over the Arizona Cardinals, and decided to offer up his own celebration: a quiet, respectful nap. Technically, it should have drawn a flag, since you're not allowed to use the ball as a prop or go to the ground in celebrations—an asinine rule that has no real purpose other than to quash fun.

Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira believes it will cost Bailey $8,681 for his little nap, and if the NFL does levy that fine, Rams fans should start a Kickstarter to pay the fine:


View: https://twitter.com/MikePereira/status/650831438359609345

There's a reason they "play" this "game"...it's supposed to have at least a tiny measure of fun. Don't fine Bailey, NFL. Let the man catch some shuteye in peace.

Mike Periera trying to be clever in that clip comes off as odd to me. He needs to stick to reading the rule book.

 

[RamWoodie]

Never seen a spike - eh?

I agree...if you spike the ball, that's using it for celebration...so why can't Sted take a nap with it???

 

[LesBaker]

Never seen a spike - eh?

Not my rule, I'm OK with a guy having a little fun........

A spike is different anyway. The rule is "using the ball as a prop".

 

[RamFan503]

Not my rule, I'm OK with a guy having a little fun........

A spike is different anyway. The rule is "using the ball as a prop".

How so? What is a spike? If Bailey rests his head on his hands it is different? Why aren't his hands a prop? I get that you don't necessarily agree with the rule. But it is idiotic if there is no rationale behind it.

 

[bskrilla]

I'm a fan of both the "old school" and the "new school". I appreciate when a player scores and just hands the ball to the Ref like it's no big deal, I think it's badass. But I also enjoy when Tavon scores a TD and one of the linemen come over and hold him up like he's fucking Simba.

They're both cool in their own way. As long as your not overtly taunting your oppenent or making a ridiculous show out of it I'm cool with it.

What Stedman did was technically a penalty, but I don't think it should be. It was short, sweet, and not directly taunting the Cardinal's any more than any other celebration does. These are grown men playing a fucking game for a living. Let them have some fun.

 

[tragic891]

Not my rule, I'm OK with a guy having a little fun........

A spike is different anyway. The rule is "using the ball as a prop".

How??? Please explain how spiking the football (the brown ball the players use) is not using the ball as a prop???

I'm not understanding the issue..
Why is Rob Gronkowski not fined/flagged for using a prop then?
There is no the difference the NFL is being petty and showing favoritism as always.

 

[Selassie I]

I'd like to clear this up right now...

Bailey did NOT use the ball as a prop... he used it as a PILLOW. Jeeeessshhhh illowfight:

 

[LesBaker]

How so? What is a spike? If Bailey rests his head on his hands it is different? Why aren't his hands a prop? I get that you don't necessarily agree with the rule. But it is idiotic if there is no rationale behind it.

Slamming the ball into the ground, spiking, isn't part of the rule. He used the ball as a "prop", that's what the rule prohibits. I don't like it and I am not bothered by the silly celebrations, and I wasn't bothered by Dickerson flipping the ball to the ref or just dropping it on the turf.

IMO had he laid his head on his hands then there couldn't be a fine. But he did break the rule and if the NFL doesn't fine him I'd be surprised.

 

[-X-]

Not being able to use it as a prop takes all the fun out of it though.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6hyxPOZuYg

 

[DaveFan'51]

It really started with idiotic showboating by Owens and when defenders would dance around the QBs head after a sack. Much like anything, the NFL needs to be logical about this. Set some time limits and or sportsmanlike conduct but let the guys do their spontaneous, quick celebrations after a big play like TDs, sacks, INTs, big runs etc. Quit taking the fun out of the showcase plays. Last night, the NO guy got a penalty for acting like he was riding a horse with the ball. It was quick and really nothing more than someone spiking the ball. It is just getting stupid with the over officiating of the game in general. Let these guys play and give the and players some fun.

Was it T.O. or Deon Sanders that stated all the "Show-Boating"!?! I hated the way Sanders would "Prance" the Last 5 Yards running back a TD after a pick!! F---ing !#$%&*()(*&^%$#!!

 

[DaveFan'51]

Sounds like Fisher got on that celebration...see around the 8 min mark

http://www.rams-news.com/jeff-fishers-monday-press-conference-video/

I liked Fisher's comments on why he didn't use Quick more, and his comments on Cunningham's play in the return game!
I had forgotten we will have Watts back for the GB game, That could be big too!

 

[Angry Ram]

Flagged, yeah. Fine? C'mon that's a little unnecessary.

I wonder if Sted is gonna get benched for a series or two tho.

 

[rhinobean]

Haven't seen where Bailey was fined. Okay by me if they don't but it should be a fine on the ref who blew the call/noncall last night when Johnson fumbled and the shitchicken's defender knock it out of the end zone!

 

[RamFan503]

Haven't seen where Bailey was fined. Okay by me if they don't but it should be a fine on the ref who blew the call/noncall last night when Johnson fumbled and the shitchicken's defender knock it out of the end zone!

I wish our multi-billionaire rich guy would grease some palms the way Allen is apparently doing it. But then Allen hasn't actually worked for a living in what? 20 years? He just reaps the benefits of being on the ground floor next to Mr. Gates.

 

[RamFan503]

Slamming the ball into the ground, spiking, isn't part of the rule. He used the ball as a "prop", that's what the rule prohibits. I don't like it and I am not bothered by the silly celebrations, and I wasn't bothered by Dickerson flipping the ball to the ref or just dropping it on the turf.

IMO had he laid his head on his hands then there couldn't be a fine. But he did break the rule and if the NFL doesn't fine him I'd be surprised.

I just disagree. Without the ball, it has no meaning. Therefore, the ball is a prop. Webster says: "something used in creating or enhancing a desired effect" My point being that the definition is weak and thus end goal is also weak. I don't buy that they were trying to prevent what Sted did. If I am right in this, the definition of the rule is useless. They could easily define a spike and saying this use of the ball is ok in celebrations.

All I'm saying is that it is another example of the NFL being woefully pathetic in defining their own rules, regulations, fine structures, suspension policies, etc. They and the refs want vagueness and the fans and even the courts want to know when a duck is actually a duck.

 

[Ramhusker]

Is the ball deemed a "prop" after a touchdown if it's given to a fan, spiked, slam dunked or made to spin on the floor like some make it do? Just wondering that's all.

Exactly what I was thinking. When you spin it, spike it, shoot it like a basketball, it is a prop. That can't be denied. Matter of fact, when a player slams it into the wall like Kendricks did when he scored against Seattle, it actually could be considered a safety thing. Let the ball bounce and drive somebody's glasses' frame into there face requiring stitches and that'll be outlawed too. Should Bailey be fined? no, but he should be reminded of the rule, as stupid as the rule might be, and how drawing a flag could possibly change the game.

I like a little celebration from time to time but I don't like the dancing and strutting after every tackle somebody makes. It just looks classy to find the ref and hand him the ball after a score or a turnover. It is kind of ironic though they allow all the pelvic thrusting and go to commercial break to parade a MILF onto the screen talking about how Viagra and Cialis makes their man's business so effective in the sack. Comical isn't it?

 

[LesBaker]

I just disagree. Without the ball, it has no meaning. Therefore, the ball is a prop. Webster says: "something used in creating or enhancing a desired effect" My point being that the definition is weak and thus end goal is also weak. I don't buy that they were trying to prevent what Sted did. If I am right in this, the definition of the rule is useless. They could easily define a spike and saying this use of the ball is ok in celebrations.

All I'm saying is that it is another example of the NFL being woefully pathetic in defining their own rules, regulations, fine structures, suspension policies, etc. They and the refs want vagueness and the fans and even the courts want to know when a duck is actually a duck.

I'm not sure what you are disagreeing with.

Bailey broke the rule, they can fine him for it. Who knows if they will, usually by Tuesday he would have gotten dinged so maybe they aren't.

I'd like to see them loosen up a bit. It's ENTERTAINMENT after all.

 

[LACHAMP46]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_3817cbdf-136c-56b0-8891-7cc2366075fc.html

Bailey reminds us all: Don't sleep on Stedman
By Jim Thomas

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey (12) pulls in a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)


Jeff Fisher wasn't amused, and there's a good chance wide receiver Stedman Bailey will receive a letter from the NFL this week — the kind informing players they have been fined.

But for pure entertainment purposes, it's hard to beat Bailey's clever touchdown celebration following an 18-yard reception that gave the Rams a 17-9 lead over Arizona in third quarter Sunday.

After making the grab in the right corner of the end zone, Bailey dropped to the ground and lay there for a few seconds before getting up. Did he slip? Was he out of breath? Was he hurt?

None of the above. Replays showed Bailey with his head on the football, using it like a ... uh ... pillow.

Even Tavon Austin, who watched Bailey score many a touchdown when they were college teammates at West Virginia, was temporarily confused.

"I don't know what he was doing on the ground," Austin said, chuckling. "Probably using the football as a pillow on the ground over there. I can't celebrate with him, so I let him do his thing — get his Zs — and then he popped right up. He went to sleep for a little bit, but he woke up."

And that, Bailey explained, was exactly the point.

"I just feel like at times a lot of guys around just sleep on me," Bailey explained. "So you know I just wanted to let 'em know they need to wake up."

Bailey has displayed flashes of talent since the Rams selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft, but he's had to fight for playing time in the pros. In two-plus NFL seasons, Bailey has a modest 53 receptions for 749 yards. His TD catch in the Rams' 24-22 upset victory over the Big Red was only the second of his career.

(He's also scored a TD on an end-around, as well as on the famed "Mountaineer" 90-yard trick-play punt return last year vs. Seattle.)

"I kind of know that I can do a lot of good things in this league," Bailey said. "At times things don't really go our way where I can showcase everything that I can do. But I'm just trying to stay patient and wait for my time."

Fisher was not a fan of the post-TD hijinks. He already has had a talk with Bailey about it. It could've cost the Rams a 15-yard penalty for using the football as a prop.

Nonetheless, Bailey scored points for creativity with his teammates.

"It was different, man," said veteran defensive end William Hayes. "I wasn't expecting that at all but it was pretty clever. I don't care what he does as long as he keeps putting that ball in the end zone. He can go to sleep every week."