NFL considering suspension or fine for (Saints receiver Joe) Horn (after phonecall)

Yahoo! Sports ^ | 12.15.03

[mhking]

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL is considering whether to discipline Saints receiver Joe Horn for making a cell phone call in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday that he doesn't expect a decision until later in the week. Horn could be fined or suspended.

New Orleans coach Jim Haslett said he would not discipline Horn. ``The league will do that,'' Haslett said.

After catching the second of four touchdown passes in a 45-7 victory over the New York Giants, Horn was handed a phone by teammate Michael Lewis, who pulled it out from under the padding used to protect the goalpost. Horn was still wearing his helmet when he punched in numbers, put the phone to the earhole and spoke into it for a few seconds.

``Would I take it back? No, no. I knew exactly what I was doing,'' Horn said after the game. ``And I understand -- I'm quite sure that I'll be fined.''

The Saints drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the stunt.

``The thing that bothered me more than anything is he put himself before the football team,'' Haslett said. ``To me that's selfish. He's selfish. He shouldn't do that.''

After San Francisco's Terrell Owens pulled a pen out of his sock and autographed a football after scoring a touchdown in a game, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue sent a memo to all teams warning that other such stunts would be punished.

[bvw]

That was pretty cool, and NO harm. It's a ninny-stater mindset to fine him heavily or suspend him.

[mhking]

Who said if you make a touch down Act like you have been there before ?

Exactly.

This was pure taunting, and completely out of line.

I'd suggest not only assessing a fine to the player, but to the team as well. That way, they'll put the kybosh on this fairly quickly.

[E Rocc]

Hey Joe Horn, you nobody, you suck, your team sucks and a few years from now, no one will remeber you. Live it up while you can you two-bit thug.

J. Horn: 9 catches, 133 yds, 4 TDs, 50 yard long

Pretty harmless stunt actually. If his coach or the other team has a problem with it, they will find ways to let him know. The "No Fun League" is getting ridiculous.

-Eric

[sinkspur]

That was pretty cool, and NO harm. It's a ninny-stater mindset to fine him heavily or suspend him.

It was taunting, and there's a rule against end-zone taunting.

Hot-doggin' antics are typical of the brothers.

They don't care if they look like clowns.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

LOL terrel owens (my boy!) has some competition for best end zone dance

oh well...maybe he shoulda done the dirty bird?

[Skywalk]

I'm not old enough, but did they say the same things about Homer Jones spike of the football(which everybody does now and few seem to have a problem with?)

And the NFL banned team celebrations, even "nice" ones like the Fun Bunch.

It's ENTERTAINMENT. I'm sure the old days were exciting, but I grew up in the 80s when lots of guys did dances, and if anything, there were more celebrations. It was a little less "in your face" back then, but it existed. Just ask the Cowboys/Redskins of that era what went on.

It's always been going on, this stuff is actually less harmful to the game than the nasty cheapness in piles.

[ladyinred]

ROTFL! I am not sure why they are upset and calling him selfish for this, but it sure as heck is funny!

[AppyPappy]

Man, ya'll are some real buzz-killers.

[Palladin]

Calling the bookie, definitely!

How many of these guys do the same thing for which Pete Rose has been banned from the Hall of Fame?

[Wondervixen]

One report I saw said it was a teammate on the sideline.

I'm about tired of the Terrell Owens', Warren Sapp clowning around that we're seeing on the field. I say if they pull a showoff stunt or go skipping through an opponents' stretching line and deliberately bump into officials, they need to be sent back to their locker room for the rest of the game and be suspended for the next one.

Spiking the ball in the endzone or doing a short celebratory touchdown/sack dance is one thing, but these long, drawn-out, choreographed, assinine acts need to be stopped before someone drops their pants & starts doing a Chippindales routine...There are children in the stands!

[sinkspur]

Man, ya'll are some real buzz-killers.

Pappy, frankly, I don't care. Pro football has turned into a boring, everybody's-the-same game. Maybe if some dude pulled his pants down and urinated in the end zone after a touchdown, that would be appropriate for what the league has become.

College football is much more entertaining, and fun.

[bvw]

Taunts? On the line, taunts are 75% of the game.

[TwoBear]

When I first saw this guy and a teammate digging around in the padding of the goal post, a strange thought crossed my mind, "Oh, no, it's a new touchdown celebration where the player humps the goal post like a friggin' cocker spaniel!"

I about busted a gut when I read your post. Thanks for the laugh!

[Pharmboy]

I've been a Giants fan for a long time. A few thoughts:

1) I was disappointed that someone did not level the SOB the next time he was on the field.

2) I am gratified to know the Aints will never get out of the first round of the playoffs if they make it that far.

[Skywalk]

Yeah those 65-13 games are a thrill-a-minute.

Nothing was more exciting than the end of both Super Bowls involving the Rams.

And at least they determine a champion the REAL way.

[r9etb]

I hate this kind of crap. Bunch of no-class thugs.

[Peach]

The NFL should suspend this guy. A fine, with his salary, is paltry.

[rightisright]

If the NFL had any balls, they would suspend him for the next game. If the Aints were to lose that game because they were shorthanded and lost a chance at a wild card then it would be fitting punishment and I can guarantee you the Hazletts of the world would never, ever allow such nonsense to happen again

[TheyConvictedOglethorpe]

I'd hammer him.

Where's Jack Tatum when you need him?

[rintense]

Can ya hear me now!

I think it's funny.