An epidemic of premature celebration is spreading through the NFL.
In Week 4, Indianapolis Colts star Adonai Mitchell dropped the football while crossing the goal line for an easy touchdown, and his mistake resulted in a touchback for the opposing team.
Greg Olsen want new NFL ‘rule’ that would cut all players over one mistake that keeps happening
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Mitchell fumbled at the goal line in Week 4, and was later benched by the ColtsCredit: Getty
One gaffe like that, if we’re being kind, is forgivable.
But just seven days later, it happened again.
On Sunday, Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado broke through the Tennessee Titans defense and made for the endzone.
But excitement for his incredible 72-yard touchdown run soon turned to despair, as the replay showed he had dropped the ball early as he celebrated crossing the line.
Demercado then faced the wrath of coach Jonathan Gannon on the sideline.
After Mitchell’s huge mistake in Week 4, the Colts lost by one score against the Los Angeles Rams. The Cardinals, meanwhile, lost by just a single point.
Had both players taken the ball into the endzone, Indianapolis — led by a rejuvenated Daniel Jones — could be 5-0, while Arizona would surely be 3-2.
Fumbling in such fashion is nothing new — names like Jonathan Taylor and DeSean Jackson also spring to mind. Mitchell and Demercado just happen to be the latest to commit a goal line goof.
But if NFL great Greg Olsen has his way, they will be the last to fall victim to it.
Olsen proposes NFL rule change to cut out celebration gaffes
Speaking on Wake Up Barstool, the former tight end suggested teams should just cut any player who makes the mistake moving forward.
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Demercado is the latest to make a goal line gaffe, but Olsen has a plan for the NFLCredit: NFL on CBS
“There’s a lot of disappointing losses in the league, I’ve been part of a lot of them,” Olsen told Dave Portnoy.
“You’re sick, you get over it. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. But that might be the worst, as far as a regular-season game (goes).
“I don’t know why guys have the need to drop the ball.
“If I was a head coach, I’d be like, ‘If you don’t run with the ball to the sideline and keep it tucked until you get there, I’m just gonna cut you.’”
He went on to admit that the rule would be hard to enforce, especially if a star name made the gaffe, with Portnoy questioning if players could be fined for dropping the ball.
“There’s probably a lot of ways you could do it,” Olsen continued.
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Olsen has urged NFL teams to cut players who celebrate before the endzoneCredit: Getty
“Everyone says, ‘Oh, cut him.’ But then, it’s like what happens if it’s Derrick Henry?
“Not that I think he would do it, but there’s always rules for some and not always everybody.”
What happened to Mitchell and Demercado after their goal line fumbles?
Mitchell, obviously, was not cut for his Week 4 gaffe. But he did get benched for most of the 40-6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders that followed seven days later.
He took a backseat to veteran receiver Ashton Dulin, who caught two passes for 55 yards.
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“AD’s got to earn it,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said.
“That was a situation where Dulin was going to start at X and play most of the game, and if we needed AD in a situation, we would have to use him.
“We played him there at the end.”
Demercado’s punishment is not yet clear.
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Demercado was quick to apologise after his fumble, but could be benchedCredit: Getty
Gannon has already apologised for his furious sideline reaction to the fumble, but has not said anything about benching the running back, despite plenty of calls from fans and analysts to do so.
Only time will tell if Demercado suits up for Sunday’s game, ironically, against the Colts and Mitchell.
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