<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:479px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5202ba2d6bb3f71b70000006-1200-900/rob-gronkowski-gronk-spike-rule-ban-2.jpg?maxX=479&amp;maxY=359" border="0" alt="rob gronkowski gronk spike rule ban" width="479" height="359" /><p class="source">Al Bello/Getty Images</p></div></div>Reports came out that <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> referees working training camps <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/05/officials-warn-players-spinning-the-ball-can-result-in-a-penalty/">were warning players of the league's desire to penalize players' celebrations that came too close to taunting with a 15-yard penalty</a>.</p>
<p>The NFL <em>is</em> encouraging its referees to make a 2013 rule against player <keyword id="61" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Celebration">celebration</keyword> a point of emphasis this year, but the rule might not be as harsh as everyone first called it out to be. <a href="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/2012%20-%20Rule%20Book.pdf">Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 reads</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"Violations of (b) will be penalized if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent. <span>These acts include but are not limited to: sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing the ball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent (prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.”</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>At first we thought this was bad news for Patriots tight end and celebrator extraordinaire <keyword id="1140233" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rob-Gronkowski">Rob Gronkowski</keyword>, who marked most of his 38 career touchdowns with his patented one-handed monster slam. </span></span></p>
<p>However, the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9547431/ball-spin-only-flag-opponent-nfl">NFL has reminded the media</a> of the <strong><em>"directly at an opponent"</em></strong> part of the rule. <a href="http://deadspin.com/the-nfl-will-crack-down-on-touchdown-celebrations-agai-1039711146">Deadspin also learned</a> from the NFL that the crackdown on celebrating will only apply on non-scoring plays. The NFL is trying to prevent incidents that slow the rate of play. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the average number of plays per game have increased every year over the past five seasons, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp13/story/_/id/9527706/chip-kelly-philadelphia-eagles-ok-playing-refs-speed-limit">up to 128.4 last year</a>. With more rookies coming into the league as products of no-huddle, Oregon-style offenses, the move makes sense. </p>
<p>So after a flirtation with peril, it seems the <keyword id="1802624" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gronk-Spike">Gronk Spike</keyword> is safe, as long as the slam is directed at no on in particular, and he only does it when he scores. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">We look forward to seeing more of this:</span></p>
<p><img class="transform-ku-xlarge" src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/183kz3e6pt34ogif/ku-xlarge.gif" border="0" alt="Gronk Spiking Like A " Nutcracker="" Dude="" Thats="" Guarding="" The="" House="" Kissing="" Jets="" Goodbye="" And="" More:="" Your="" Sunday="" NFL="" GIF="" Roundup="" UPDATED="" width="640" height="360" /></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br style="line-height: 1.5em;" /></span></p>

The NFL Is Cracking Down On Celebrations This Year

<p><em>The<span> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.</em></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=52555&amp;urllink=www.nflshop.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5379c7e43f4007aa063438-640/download.jpg" border="0" alt="download" data-mce-source="NFL Shop" /></a><p class="source"><span>NFL Shop</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams takes place this Sunday, February 3, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.</li><li>People across the world will be gathering at Super Bowl parties to watch the game and enjoy the festivities surrounding the event.</li><li>Regardless of who you are rooting for, make sure that you show up to your party dressed to impress by getting some <a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=52555&amp;urllink=www.nflshop.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official Super Bowl gear before Sunday from the online NFL Shop</a>.</li></ul><p>While only two teams play in the Super Bowl, the game itself is watched by millions of people all across the country.</p><p>Super Bowl parties have become their own event, with people gorging on infinitely layered dips, Olympic swimming pools of guacamole, and dangerous amounts chicken wings. Plus, because gambling is now an inherent aspect of watching sports, squares boards and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-prop-bets-2019-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prop bets</a> are now commonplace at the parties, making the on-field spectacle must-see TV. </p><p>New England fans should have already budgeted funds for division and conference championship shirts, hats, and hoodies at the beginning of the season, while Los Angeles devotees should capitalize on their moment, because, as you know, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rams-beat-saints-refs-miss-pass-interference-nickell-robey-coleman-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one bad call</a> and your dreams can vanish quicker than the velocity of a Gronk Spike. </p><p>Be the one who turn heads at your Super Bowl party by rocking some of this official gear from the NFL Shop; just make sure you don't spill any buffalo sauce on it. </p><p><em>This team gear should arrive in time for the big game if you order before the end of the day on Thursday, January 31.</em></p><p class="tagline"><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p>

The NFL's official shop has all the Super Bowl gear you'll want to wear on game day - and you can still order in time

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5829b0f3691e8828018b6762-1024/gettyimages-623054136.jpg" alt="Ezekiel Elliot" data-mce-source="Justin K. Aller/Getty Images"><p class="source"><span>Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Good morning! Here are the plays everybody will be talking about on Monday:</p><p><strong>The Saints lost because the Broncos wear white shoes</strong>. With less than 90 seconds to go, the Saints scored what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown against the Broncos. However, the extra point was blocked appearing to leave the game tied. But the Broncos scooped up the ball and ran it all the way back for a 2-point conversion return of their own to take a dramatic two-point lead. But wait. It sure looked like Will Parks inexplicably stepped out of bounds during the return. Several replays appear to show half of his right foot on the line. However, when officials looked at the replay they could not find definitive proof, in large part because his shoe and the sideline were both white. So the score was upheld&#xa0;(<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/broncos-beat-saints-after-denver-returns-blocked-extra-point-2016-11" target="_blank">read more here</a>).</p><p><div><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/gr6z?muted=1&amp;autoplay=1&amp;hd=1" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></p><p>&#xa0;</p><p><strong>Ezekiel Elliot blitzed the Steelers for a game-winning run in the closing seconds</strong>. The Cowboys and Steelers combined to score three touchdowns in the final two minutes, including two touchdown runs by Elliot and a perfectly executed fake spike by Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. But that score left too much time on the clock as the Cowboys came back down and got the win on Elliot's 32-yard touchdown run right up the middle with just nine seconds to play&#xa0;(<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cowboys-steelers-highlights-finish-2016-11" target="_blank">read more here</a>).</p><p><div><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/0pft?muted=1&amp;autoplay=1&amp;hd=1" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></p><p>&#xa0;</p><p><strong>Jameis Winston scrambled for his life before hitting a long bomb</strong>. The Buccaneers blew out the Bears 36-10. But early in the third quarter, when the game was still in doubt, Winston had a scramble for the ages. On a play that began at the 23-yard line, Winston scrmabled all the way back to his own end zone, avoided several tackles, and eventually found Mike Evans streaking down the middle of the field for a 39-yard pass. The Bucs would score a touchdown on the next play and never look back&#xa0;(<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jameis-winston-incredible-pass-to-mike-evans-vs-bears-2016-11" target="_blank">read more here</a>).</p><p><div><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/68g1?muted=1&amp;autoplay=1&amp;hd=1" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></p><p>&#xa0;</p><p><strong>The Gronk no-call bonus</strong>. The Seahawks and Patriots had another memorable finish. With the Patriots down seven, they worked the ball down to the one-yard line in the final minute. After Tom Brady fumbled the snap attempting a quarterback sneak on third down, they were down to their final play on fourth down. Brady tried to hit Rob Gronkowski in the corner, but despite a lot of contact and both Gronk and Kam Chancellor falling to the ground, no flag was thrown and it was game over. Did Chancellor hold? Maybe. But it also looks like Gronk initiates the contact to begin with. Announcer Chris Collinsworth thought it was a good no-call.</p><p><div><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ok0s?muted=1&amp;autoplay=1&amp;hd=1" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/theo-epstein-world-series-curse-boston-red-sox-baseball-2016-11">How Cubs president Theo Epstein ended two of baseball's longest World Series curses</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="trM2s4NzE62Ha_WFhNd3X5RVmxynY-H5" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'trM2s4NzE62Ha_WFhNd3X5RVmxynY-H5',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "Gronk Spike" and got 3 results

The NFL Is Cracking Down On Celebrations This Year

Philip Johnson

The NFL's official shop has all the Super Bowl gear you'll want to wear on game day - and you can still order in time

Danny Bakst

The 3 plays in sports everybody will be talking about today

Cork Gaines