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.

[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.

[usadave]

You either have class or you don't. Joe Horn doesn't have it.

[Ganymede]

Sorry, but I find this humorous.

[Drango]

Hot-doggin' antics are typical of the brothers.

Huh?

[usadave]

These guys don't understand that the NFL only loses fans with this kind of crap.

It's interesting that you would say that. I used to be a huge NFL football fan. I now haven't watched an NFL game in almost two full seasons, and it's on-field behavior like Joe Horn's and Terrell Owens' (among countless others) that has caused me to boycott watching NFL football until the NFL starts to seriously crack down on players' unprofessional on-field behavior. I'll stick with college football in the meantime.

[sinkspur]

It's obvious.

[AdA$tra]

Just don't see much difference between a phone call, the worm or a slam dunk. Joe just wishes he was still a Chief, where he would get recognition for real accomplishments.

[NYC Republican]

Jackass bump!

[AdA$tra]

These guys don't understand that the NFL only loses fans with this kind of crap.

Oh man, they are leaving in droves. Perhaps I can get Chiefs tickets next year....yeah right. You guys are really harshing my mellow.

[usadave]

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.

So, how many of these "stunts" should the NFL allow per game? Should the NFL allow a "stunt" only after a touchdown? Or should they allow a "stunt" after every play? How long should a single "stunt" be allowed to go on? 15 seconds? 30 seconds? One minute? Two minutes? No time limit at all? How about if there are so many "stunts" going on during a game that NFL games start to drag on for four, four and one-half, or five hours?

[Drango]

It's obvious.

Yes it is. You're an clymer.

[sinkspur]

Yes it is. You're an clymer.

That's uncalled for, Dango. But, not out of character, for you.

[Drango]

My apologies to Sinkspur for my intemperate use of words. I was havin' a bad hair day...

[lavrenti]

I think the taunting needs to be upped more. Perhaps a DB should carry a pack filled with animal viscera and red-colored Karo syrup and proceed to pretend it is a heart ripped from the chest of a tackled runner.

[flair2000]

I'm sick of these holier-than-thou pundits busting on Joe Horn. Who was more unprofessional in that game? What it Horn whipping out the cell phone, or was it the team on the other side of the field, made of of "athletes" making millions of dollars to play football, who were not doing so, and were making a mockery of the sport (yes, the NY GIANTS!!!)? I rest my case.

[John W]

Quarterback Has Cross To Bear

Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna said Thursday the NFL fined him $5,000 for wearing a baseball-style cap marked with a cross.

In wearing the cap at his postgame news conferences, Kitna violated an NFL rule prohibiting the wearing of non-NFL apparel immediately after a game. Television footage of

Kitna, an avid reader of the Bible, showed him wearing the red cap marked with a white cross.

"That's what happens when you don't follow the rules," Kitna said. "I won't wear it any more. The Bible says submit to the authorities placed above you. The authorities say that's the rule."

Kitna said he plans to appeal the fine because he thought the NFL rule just applied to competitors' products.