Jimmy Graham decides to give up goalpost dunking
By Josh Sanchez
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham didn’t seem to care that the NFL decided to make dunking on the field goal posts a 15-yard penalty, because he continued to throw down dunks after scoring during the team’s preseason games on Saturday.
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Saints head coach Sean Payton was not happy with his tight end costing the team, and now Graham has decided to abandon his once proud tradition.
“For four years and however many touchdowns I always dunked it,” Graham said, via Larry Holder of the New Orleans Time-Picayune. “I just got to stop doing that now.
“That’s just the rule, which is unfortunate because I just love the game. I have a lot of passion for the game. I go out there on Sunday and it’s fun for me. It’s just fun. Act like a little kid out there, and sometimes I act like it.”
The rule came into place because Graham knocked a field goal post off balance during a game against the Atlanta Falcons last season.
Dunking after a touchdown is something entertaining for the fans, but it is something that everyone will have to say goodbye to unless Graham scores during the season and lives in the moment rather than thinking twice about the new rules.