"Gun" Celebrations

[TecnoGenius]

Last week they fined a player for doing the "shooting gun" hand gestures in celebration of some big play.  That's the first time in a looong time they have done that.  Sometime in 2022 (I think, from memory) the refs stopped calling gun signs as penalties in-game.  And the league hasn't really been fining them either.

In weeks 1-5 of 2024 I saw a ton of gun signs.  Same in 2023.  It was getting rampant and obvious again, and TSN often would zoom in and show them in iso in slow-mo.  But the refs (and command) were silent.

Something happened when that player got the fine.  There must have been a league memo going out to all teams, and teams disseminated the message to players... because in week 6 there wasn't a single gun sign.  Not one.  I was looking for it.  (If anyone has any inside baseball on this, I'd love to hear it!)

I like that the league is getting back to being consistent with what they say are the standards: clearly they were getting too lax on enforcement.  Personally I think the ban on gun signs is lame, but it's been the standard for so long I don't care as long as they are consistent.  I hope they now start calling these strictly on-field so they affect games, too (mostly because WPG is very disciplined, so it's kind of like a free 10-20Y a game for us, LOL).

Final question: should the Acklin "archery shot" be banned too?  They've always let him get away with this, even in the "strict" years.  Again, I have no problem with it, but to be consistent...

[Blueforlife]

I love the archery shot, tasteful imo

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I love the archery shot, tasteful imo

Yes it has a different frame of reference as well, could be Robin Hood, could also be  Apollo or any god that carries a bow.  Also noticed a few players pretending to resheath swords, which seems okay.

[BomberFan73]

The archery shot celly has been banned in hockey, there was an incident a couple years ago vs a mostly Indigenous team.
On a football field though, I think it's just a celebration.

The "Stinky Finger" is one I don't know is good today, and surprised more haven't complained about it.

[dd]

The archery shot celly has been banned in hockey, there was an incident a couple years ago vs a mostly Indigenous team.
On a football field though, I think it's just a celebration.

The "Stinky Finger" is one I don't know is good today, and surprised more haven't complained about it.

Ya, the stinky finger is done because they banned the throat slash, should ban it too.

there's too many celly's on during the game, heck players make a big deal out of getting a first down, seriously?? It's a stinking first down, big deal.

[theaardvark]

"Act like you've been there before"

Celebrations over little things, like a first down in the first quarter at midfield is uncalled for.

Sure, when you make a game changing play, celebrate.

Other than that, be a professional.

[BomberFan73]

"Act like you've been there before"

Celebrations over little things, like a first down in the first quarter at midfield is uncalled for.

Sure, when you make a game changing play, celebrate.

Other than that, be a professional.

SApeaking of which, dod you notice when Pokey got his TD, he almost spiked the ball, then held back?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

SApeaking of which, dod you notice when Pokey got his TD, he almost spiked the ball, then held back?

Didn't want to break the chip!

[TecnoGenius]

The "Stinky Finger" is one I don't know is good today, and surprised more haven't complained about it.

Funny you mention that... I didn't know that's what it's called.  We saw it basically every other big play in 2023.  But you know what, I don't think I saw it all weekend, in any of the 4 games!

Did the CFL not just clamp down on gun signs, but also "stinky fingers"?  Surely it can't be organic that all of a sudden some of these things are disappearing completely.

It will be very telling if someone "lets one slip" and the refs spot it... see what they flag or not.

[TecnoGenius]

Didn't want to break the chip!

Spiked ball, broken chip, $500 please!

The hardest spike I've seen all season was CGY's QB Stevens after a sneak.  That dude has some major beef going on.

[BomberFan73]

Funny you mention that... I didn't know that's what it's called.  We saw it basically every other big play in 2023.  But you know what, I don't think I saw it all weekend, in any of the 4 games!

Did the CFL not just clamp down on gun signs, but also "stinky fingers"?  Surely it can't be organic that all of a sudden some of these things are disappearing completely.

It will be very telling if someone "lets one slip" and the refs spot it... see what they flag or not.

I don't know if everyone calls it that, but we used to do it as teenage boys....very demeaning nowadays, if you know what I mean.

[LXTSN]

"Act like you've been there before"

Celebrations over little things, like a first down in the first quarter at midfield is uncalled for.

Sure, when you make a game changing play, celebrate.

Other than that, be a professional.

They are paid to play a kids game! Let's not act like there is some kind of professional standard to uphold...

If I could make the rules, celebrations and taunting would not be penalized. They're all grown men, who cares!

In my opinion, trash talk is part of sports and it adds a little something to the game.

[Jesse]

I generally think penalties for celebrations and taunting is the lamest thing ever. This is how you know the game is run by a bunch of old white men.

One thing I will say in defence of the zero tolerance rule is, when you open up the can of worms, you inevitably get people who take it too far and do inappropriate things (the gun celebration being an example for some people). So it's probably tougher to manage than I make it out to be while I sit on my couch.

[theaardvark]

Maybe restrict the celies to a single action.  One motion.  Anything more is "embelishment" or "Taunting", with a 5 or 10 yard penalty.

This crap of running to the endzone, doing a duck duck goose, or an exploding football mime, or some other posing crap does not add to the game at all.  You want those shenannigans, get the cheerleaders to do it.  Isn't that their job?

Not trying to be a stick in the mud, but this is a professional SPORT, not a dance competition, not the WWE.  Finish the play, take a quick bow, get back to your side of the LOS and on to the next play.  The excitement and entertainment should come from the plays.

[Jesse]

Maybe restrict the celies to a single action.  One motion.  Anything more is "embelishment" or "Taunting", with a 5 or 10 yard penalty.

This crap of running to the endzone, doing a duck duck goose, or an exploding football mime, or some other posing crap does not add to the game at all.  You want those shenannigans, get the cheerleaders to do it.  Isn't that their job?

Not trying to be a stick in the mud, but this is a professional SPORT, not a dance competition, not the WWE.  Finish the play, take a quick bow, get back to your side of the LOS and on to the next play.  The excitement and entertainment should come from the plays.

This is the lame take I don't want to be associated with. This is entertainment. If they want to spend some time having fun and entertaining us, why do some people have to be a stick in the mud?

Duck, duck, goose and bobsledding is harmless, inoffensive fun that everyone enjoyed.