New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham twice dunked the football over the crossbar of the goal post in Friday’s preseason game. Each time he was hit with a 15-yard penalty earning the ire of head coach Sean Payton.
Talking on Sunday to ESPN, Graham said he “would never do anything to hurt the team” once the regular season rolls around.
While Graham is certainly not about to embrace the new rule which shuts down his touchdown celebration he knows that doing so is beneficial to the Saints.
“You know, for four years and however many touchdowns, I’ve always dunked it. And I just gotta stop doing that now,” said Graham.
Payton chased down Graham and the two had a brief shouting match following Graham’s second flag on Friday. Since then both parties have talked and are back on the same page.
“The rule [is] unfortunate because I just love the game. I have a lot of passion for the game. And when I go out there on Sunday, it’s fun for me,” Graham said. “And I feel like a little kid out there. And sometimes I act like it.”
