NFL

Taunting, or just good fun

By JOANNE KORTH
Published December 11, 2005

Taunting is an NFL no-no.

Mockery, however, is okay.

Several receivers have taken the art of the touchdown celebration to a new level this season by devising subtle ways to needle their opponents without drawing ire. No one has pointed a finger, but several have taken jabs.

Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who has caught 10 touchdowns, rowed a boat against the Vikings, a reference to their sex-cruise scandal. A week later, Smith swashbuckled the Bucs with an imaginary sword.

Funny or foul?

Smith was not penalized for either display, nor has anyone from the league asked him to refrain from using his opponents as grist. And not all of Smith's celebrations are tailored to the opponent, such as last weekend's dirty diaper routine.

"The stuff I do is fun," Smith said. "It's not over the top. If it were, they would probably let me know by fining me."

Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, who has done the Riverdance and proposed to a cheerleader this season, hinted he had some things to "iron out in the Steel City" before last weekend's game in Pittsburgh. He never got the chance, but Steelers receiver Hines Ward picked up the slack by attempting the Ickey Shuffle.

Earlier this season, Eagles receiver Terrell Owens draped a towel over his left arm and raised his hand as if serving his 4-yard touchdown reception against the Chargers as the catch of the day. Later in the game, Chargers receiver Keenan McCardell mocked Owens by playing waiter, his lack of originality making clear his intent.

Still, no penalty.

The NFL's director of officiating, Mike Pereira, hasn't seen anything yet he considers taunting. None of the end-zone revelers has crossed the line by directing his actions at an individual player or opponent sideline. In fact, taunting penalties are down.

"I'm trying to be smart about it and not do anything over the top," Smith said. "I want to be classy as far as the league standard. I always do it away from a guy, never toward a guy."

Choreographed group dances have long been outlawed. Early last season, players were warned not to use props. That decree came after orchestrated celebrations by Saints receiver Joe Horn, who hid a cell phone in goal-post padding, and Owens, who pulled a Sharpie from his sock while playing for the 49ers in 2002.

Leave it to a bunch of narcissistic receivers to find a way to further their performance art.

It's entirely possible these new-age celebrations are simply too clever for officials to immediately recognize as taunting. That would require knowledge of nearly every story line in the NFL. Several people didn't get Smith's rowboat reference at first.

And so far, no one is complaining.

"Celebrations are celebrations," Bucs cornerback Juran Bolden said. "I swear, when I get in the end zone I'll probably get about 13 flags thrown at me. I like the celebrations. It shows the character of the person. Of course, I hate them when somebody's celebrating on us."

So, what does Smith have planned for today's rematch with the Bucs?

"Nothing," he said.

Yeah, right.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]