Image via Complex Original
With the NFL getting even stricter this year in enforcing celebration restrictions we may have seen the last of the flamboyant tough guy who goes straight River Dancefor doing his job. After all, what the heck is the point of scoring a touchdown when you can't bring all the attention to yourself? These botched celebrations are a waning dinosaur, an extincting moon (or some combination of the two.)
In the modern-day NFL, modesty isn't exactly common. Spiking the ball turned into touchdown dances. Touchdown dances turned into a sharpie in the shoe. A sharpie in the shoe turned into a hidden cell phone. That paved the way for sack dances, emphatic first downs (whether or not it even was a first down) and all manner of BS that makes you forget you're watching the "toughest game" on Earth.
Sometimes you have to ask the question: How did we get here? If watching a routine TD in the NFL didn't turn into rehearsed theatricals worthy of Broadway then maybe the brass wouldn't order a league-wide crackdown. Humble men need not apply as we pay tribute to the few who've gotten some karmic retribution. Though some of these entries are innocent bystanders, their place in the TD-crossfire deserves documentation. Simply handing the ball to an official would go a long way. Just ask Danny Trevathan, who had a DeSean Jackson-type fail last night. Luckily the Broncos already had the game won. These are the 25 Worst Touchdown Celebration Fails.
GIF Gallery: The Worst Amateur Athlete Fails
Danny Trevathan's Premature...
Date: 9/5/2013
Teams: Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos
Player involved: Danny Trevathan
The tougher rule crackdowns can't prevent everything. Trevathan came a little too fast. His girl knows exactly how that feels like.
What a Dock!
Date: 1/10/2010
Teams: Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals (Wildcard Round)
Player involved: Darnell Dockett
If that's not "unsportsmanlike" we don't know what is. By the way, that headline may or may not be a direct quote from that ref. We're not great at lip reading.
International Problem
Date: 9/19/2008
Teams: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Players involved: Milt Steagall (Duck), Romby Bryant (Duck), Derick Armstrong (Duck), Arjei Franklin (Goose), Terrence Edwards (It)
What does this say about wideouts? Dang, we thought they were prima donnas here.
At Least He Didn't Dougie
Date: 10/25/1964
Teams: San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Player involved: Jim Marshall
Technically this is a safety celebration.
Kiss it
Date: 1/9/2005
Teams: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (Wildcard Round)
Player involved: Randy Moss
More of a "fail" for Joe Buck's sanctimonious overreaction.
Orange Who?
Date: 1/4/2012
Teams: Clemson Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (Orange Bowl)
Player involved: Darwin Cook (With the tackle)
Orange you glad you chose to be a big dumb fuckin' mascot?
It's a Man's Game
Date: 11/14/2004
Teams: Washington Redskins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Player involved: Kelley Washington
That took courage.
Fast Legs, Slow Learner
Date: 1/15/2005 & 9/15/2008
Teams: U.S. Army All American Game & Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Player involved: DeSean Jackson
Putting the "ass" in class act. Boom!
Rejected!
Date: 9/9/2012
Teams: San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
Player involved: Vernon Davis
Just call that crossbar, Roy Hibbert.
The Ralph Wilson Leap
Date: 12/9/2012
Teams: St. Louis Rams vs. Buffalo Bills
Player involved: Lee Smith
It is the Bills.
Are You Stupid (Dob)son?
Date: 9/10/2010
Teams: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Player involved: Aaron Dobson
In fairness, this has happened like 50 times. But dude, would it kill you to hold onto the ball for, like, an extra tenth of a second?
The Definition of Sportsmanship
Date: 10/27/2007
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators
Players involved: Everyone on Georgia's squad after a Knowshon Moreno TD.
We wouldn't be shocked if this was still a source of anger in Gainesville. Though Florida lost the battle that day (42-30), Urban Meyer's inner sociopath took note, quietly seethed, and then clowned them 49-10 the next season, while using two timeouts in the final minute. Is it a "fail?" Depends on your definition. But the last thing you want is Urban Meyer gameplanning on you.
The Omen
Date: 8/24/2012
Teams: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Player involved: Matt Cassel
A definite sign of things to come.
Wasn't Even His Touchdown
Date: 8/31/2013
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Clemson Tigers
Player involved: Malcolm Mitchell
Let us all learn from Malcolm Mitchell's season ending injury (and Kendry Morales' for that matter). Don't ever celebrate anything, ever.
Gronk do bad?
Date: 9/9/2012
Teams: New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans
Player Involved: Rob Gronkowski
Damn. Almost as much of a "fail" as their other tight end.
He Had It Coming
Date: 12/16/2012
Teams: Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams
Player involved: Danny Amendola
For all you know that guy's the next John Wayne Gacy. And if it makes you feel better that a completely innocent, elderly usher wore one in the face from an overpaid wideout down 20 in the 4th quarter, than believe it.
Sacrebleu!
Date: 7/21/2012
Teams: Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Players involved: Chris Williams (Returner), Brian Ridgeway (Tackler)
Interesting Fact: He still set the CFL single season return TD record that year with six.
The Spirit of the Rule?
Date: 12/3/2011
Teams: Cathedral High School vs. Blue Hills (Division 4A Super Bowl)
Player involved: Matthew Owens
In case you're not familiar with the 2011 Massachusetts 4A Championship (and why wouldn't you be?), this simple arm raise cost QB Owens and Cathedral High School their first state title. It's sure to teach the whole squad a completely pointless lesson about obeying the rules. One day one of these kids from Cathedral will start to jaywalk and then remember when these refs destroyed his dream season. When that little heartbroken bastard finds a crosswalk he'll realize the valuable wisdom these zebras were imparting and it'll all be worth it.
Taking It Too Far
Date: 9/24/2000
Teams: San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Players involved: Terrell Owens, George Teague (Retaliator), Emmitt Smith (Unpictured)
That star was really all the 2000 Cowboys (5-11) had.
Like a Russian Gymnast in London
Date: 10/2/2010
Teams: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears
Player involved: Marion Barber
It could've been worse. He could've run the ball out of bounds while running out the clock, or something.
Money Shot
Date: 1/1/2012
Teams: New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
Player involved: Dustin Keller
No better way to ring in the New Year than jacking off a ghost onto your face. Not really sure what he's going for here but, we of all people know, sometimes your genius is well before its time.
Live and Lett Die, or something
Date: 1/31/1993
Teams: Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl
Players Involved: Leon Lett, Don Beebe
In the scheme of things, this didn't really matter in Dallas' 52-17 romp over the perpetual runner-up Bills. It just made Leon Lett look like a doofus, which, if you watched football on Thanksgiving '93, you realize wasn't a one-time deal.
Should've seen it coming.
Date: 9/19/2011
Teams: St. Louis Rams vs. New York Giants
Player involved: Michael Boley
Abusing interns was a definite red flag.
Grey Cup Check
Date: 8/6/1998
Teams: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Toronto Argonauts
Player involved: Kerwin Bell
Spike ball...check. Hit self in nuts...check. Get pushed into back of confused guys knees...check.
Buttheaded Headbutt
Date: 11/23/1997
Teams: New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Player involved: Gus Frerotte
As a result of this rhinoceros-like display of aggression, Frerotte received a sprained neck and a concussion (that wall had better have a good lawyer). One could easily believe he was already concussed for festively slamming his head into some, slightly padded, bricks. If you're going to look dumb celebrating what you were supposed to do anyway, make sure it at least looks cool. Gus Frerotte's headbutt of a concrete wall in a 7-7 tie sets the standard for celebratory dickery.