I have to write a research paper on the celebration rule for the NFL. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

It was originally put into place in 2004.
The owners adopted a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebrations, the penalty will be in addition to fines previously in place for choreographed and multiplayer celebrations such as Joe Horn's hidden cell phone trick and Terrell Owens' end-zone autograph.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7221738


It was modified this year :
Rule expanded to say: Stay on your feet. No more push-ups, sit-ups, boat-rowing, snow angels or worm crawls. The rulesmakers also outlawed using the ball as a prop, adding it to the "foreign or extraneous objects that are not part of the uniform."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12070684/


If you are really looking for the history of the rule. Back in 1984 a rule was introducted that said:
Unsportsmanlike conduct will also by called for any prolonged, excessive, or premeditated celebration by individual players or a group of players. This is usually referred to as the "Mark Gastineau Rule" because a major reason why this change was made was to stop him from performing his signature "Sack Dance" every time after he sacked an opposing quarterback.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_NFL_se...

It was added to this season & the new rule is that you can not use the football as a prop. You can however still do the little dances. In the Bears VS Giants game, the ball was placed under the shirt (like a baby or pregnant mother) so it was used as a prop in the celebration so the Giants drew the foul.

I can tell you what, and why, but not when.

It was put in place because the NFL thought that touchdown dances where going way over the top in terms of length and taunting. Thus, they made a rule against it. It's mostly, from what i understand, a judgement call by the refs on the field. Basically, a quick little dance is fine, but if you go out of your way to rub it in, then you get the penalty.

It also effects sack dances and any other type of celebration.

The Excessive Celebration (multiplayer celebration) was put into place in May of 2004.

New rule to 2006:
Individual players are prohibited from using foreign objects or the football while celebrating. They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. Previously, players were not prohibited from using props or celebrating on the ground.
Reason for the change: Promotes sportsmanship.

Though, this is really what you're looking for.
http://www.kcci.com/sports/2964518/detai...

Good luck

i think it was put in place this year. basically u can't celebrate with teammates. for example, if you get a touchdown, you can do a dance yourself but u can't do it with anyone else but yourself.

i THINK that's all it is

2006
Individual players are prohibited from using foreign objects or the football while celebrating. They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. Previously, players were not prohibited from using props or celebrating on the ground

I dont like the rule you can put that in the paper

If you're doing this for research, most of the answers are right. But you could also add this in.

There has been some type of "unsportsmanlike" / "excessive celebration rule" that has been in place since the mid 1980's. It started garnering media attention with the endzone celebrations of the Washington Redskins Funbunch when they would have like 7 or 8 players doing dances or group hi-fives after a touchdown. It gathered even more steam with individual celebrations like Mark Gastineau's sack dance and Ickey Woods' "Ickey shuffle."