Falcons See No Problems With Cam Newton (Or Any Player) Celebrating

[birdz4i]

Vaughn McClure,

ESPN Staff Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- An image made its way around the Atlanta Falcons locker room Wednesday, a split picture of touchdown celebrations by quarterbacks Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers.

The caption under Newton's "dab" dance photo read: "He gets a letter that goes viral from a mother of a 9-year-old scolding him for his 'excessive behavior.'" The message underneath Rodgers' championship-belt display read: "He gets a commercial endorsement deal from State Farm Insurance."

Falcons outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield shook his head while viewing the image, knowing folks should check why they're discounting Newton. The Panthers' signal-caller has gathered plenty of national attention not just for an undefeated start, but for his touchdown celebrations against Tennessee last week that drew the ire of Titans linebacker Avery Williamson and led to the disgruntled mom sending the aforementioned letter.

"Number one, it's part of the game," Schofield said. "That's a part that makes it exciting. I don't think it's offending anybody. If you keep him out the end zone, you have nothing to worry about."

Schofield does his own celebrating on the field, having brought back the old "Dirty Bird" from the Jamal Anderson days after a big defensive stop.

"I think everybody is entitled to their own expression and celebration," Schofield continued. "As long as you don't take it too far where you personally just go up to a guy. ... Nobody says anything about Aaron Rodgers doing his thing. Recently, it just seems like everybody's trying to fight Cam Newton. I guess you don't see a lot of quarterbacks doing that, but I like it."

Falcons strong safety William Moore shared those feelings.

"Other guys are getting endorsements off certain celebrations, so why is it [an issue]?," Moore said, taking a subtle jab at Rodgers. "I guess just because it's Cam. He's an excellent player and he's just enjoying the game. And he should continue to do that, just not against the Falcons."

No one could really envision Matt Ryan ever dancing after a score, but at least one Falcon has caught a little grief recently over a touchdown celebration. Last year, Devin Hester high-stepped his way into the end zone in Deion Sanders-like fashion after setting the NFL record with his 20th return touchdown. He broke his mentor Sanders' record in the process and picked up a 15-yard penalty for taunting following his strut.

"I don't see nothing wrong with it as long as you don't do any nasty stuff, like trying to take your pants off," Hester said. "That's football.

You've gotta have fun with it. Nobody wants to walk around here and be a robot; score a touchdown and act like you didn't score. It's a reward when you do score a touchdown. It's something you work so [hard] to do in the offseason. I feel like it's OK, as long as you don't take it to the extreme. Everybody needs to have fun.

"You make plays when you have fun. Those guys walking around like robots, those are the ones not getting in the end zone."

Schofield called all the talk regarding the Newton touchdown celebration "petty."

"You look forward to the opportunity to get to this level where you can celebrate and have fun," he said. "I think the fans like it, but you can't please everybody.

"It's funny when a fan says they are offended by a celebration but you drive up to an [opposing] stadium and there are fans outside tailgating with their kids flicking us off. What's the difference? I'm offended by that, but do I get to express it? No. That's petty to me. That's part of the game when going to a visiting stadium. They try to intimidate you or do whatever they can to do their part as fans. As a player, you enjoy that. It's part of the game."

http://espn.go.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/17425/falcons-see-plenty-reason-for-cam-newton-players-to-celebrate

[notthatcool]

glad i took the over on cam threads.

we play the colts sunday?

[ugalang]

I can live with a TD celebration, but I personally think the first down celebrations are over the top. Perhaps if he celebrated with his linemen instead of standing all by himself I would think differently.

[RockNCFalcon]

I don't care what he does in other games, but I don't want to see him celebrate ANYTHING when he plays our Falcons!

[kevykev21]

I don't like Cam but I didn't see any problem with it at all.

[vel]

Uh oh, let's see how some of those posters that were wishing harm and calling Cam a childish idiot are going to respond.

[Macknsweetjones]

Seems like a white and black thing to me, folks just ignoring the elephant in the room honestly

[TheFatboi]

I can live with a TD celebration, but I personally think the first down celebrations are over the top. Perhaps if he celebrated with his linemen instead of standing all by himself I would think differently.

All he does when he gets a 1st down is point first down just like Devonta Freeman. He doesn't celebrate a 1st down.

[TheFatboi]

Seems like a white and black thing to me, folks just ignoring the elephant in the room honestly

There's always that undertone. It's a stereotype. I experienced it when I played and I see the same things today.

[Gumby5]

I'm also not a Cam fan but his touchdown celebration didn't seem out of line. I'm not a big fan of the overdone first down celebration he does but it certainly isn't a big deal.

The ones I think are super ridiculous is when a team is getting hammered and someone on the D sacks the QB and celebrates. Uhmmm....sorry, but your team (and D) are getting killed. Why don't you just stop it. I think some Chicago Bear did that last year after sacking Brady and actually blew out his knee during the celebration.

[octoslash]

"When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before"

---John Riggins

[NZFalcon]

That old chesnut. Reoccurring non issue

[Gumby5]

All he does when he gets a 1st down is point first down just like Devonta Freeman. He doesn't celebrate a 1st down.

Not in my opinion. He does an drawn out, overly dramatic and emphatic "point" compared to Devonta and the others in the league.

But, it isn't a huge deal. Just makes me like him less and less. Hope we can stop him so we don't have to see this or the touchdown dance.

[TheFatboi]

"When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before"---John Riggins

The league would be bored to death if everybody just handed the ball to the ref. That's why I like gronk. He has fun.

[TheFatboi]

Not in my opinion. He does an drawn out, overly dramatic and emphatic "point" compared to Devonta and the others in the league.

But, it isn't a huge deal. Just makes me like him less and less. Hope we can stop him so we don't have to see this or the touchdown dance.

There's many 1st down points from different players so it doesn't bother me when he does his. I doubt we can stop him from getting a first down but I'd like to keep him out of the end zone. The only way ANY of this makes me feel is stop him and you won't have to see it.

[blizzard_falcon]

"Number one, it's part of the game," Schofield said. "That's a part that makes it exciting. I don't think it's offending anybody. If you keep him out the end zone, you have nothing to worry about."

Stop Cam from making big plays, and he'll have nothing to celebrate. It's that easy.

[TheFatboi]

Stop Cam from making big plays, and he'll have nothing to celebrate. It's that easy.

I wouldn't say it's easy but that's the gist of it.

[Mega Flare]

"When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before" ---John Riggins

I've heard this quote attributed to Paul Brown and Bear Bryant too. I wonder who actually said it first?

[octoslash]

I don't know who said it FIRST, but I guarantee you Riggins said it DRUNKEST!!

[Duff_Man]

I don't even want Newton celebrating his birthday.

[atl jones bro3]

"When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before"---John Riggins

So you want them to show a lack of interest or enthusiasm for scoring? "Ehh I've done this before I don't really care it's not a big deal whatever man". Sounds like a pathetic mentality to have. It should excite you every time you score, not bore you. That just shows a lack of passion for the game on riggins part Edited November 19, 2015 by atl jones bro3

[dmo_dlo]

Why in the world should McClure, the Falcon beat writer for ESPN, write an article about Newton's celebration in a game that was not even against Falcons?!!!

[djbrough]

Growing up, we'd talk trash the entire game. The sport didn't matter either. It could be basketball, football, baseball, or a card game like spades. Trash talking, celebration, etc is a part of the mental aspect of the game. There were times where my trash talking led to mistakes by my opponent just because he couldn't concentrate. Intimidation works the same way.

If I can effect a person's focus with a few words or a dance, then I give myself an advantage. I see nothing wrong with that.

[PokerSteve]

There are some entertaining TD celebrations, there are some that are gross and repugnant; and then there are those that are just totally offensive in display and duration. Cam Newton's celebrations have descended from overdone to prolonged, inane buffoonery. Do it in your yogurt commercials, Cam. I don't want it as part of my football afternoon.

[Tribal Chief]

As they shouldn't.