In the aftermath of Friday's spat with New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, tight end Jimmy Graham indicated his days of dunking the football over the goalpost were over when he said he would never do anything to hurt the team.
Seemingly out of protest against one of the league's new rules prohibiting players from dunking the football over the goalpost as a touchdown celebration, Graham emphatically dunked the football after both of his touchdowns in Friday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.
The two dunks drew penalties each time, with the second flag leading to an argument on the sidelines between Graham and Payton. Graham, who met privately with Payton after the incident, told reporters he would "never do anything to hurt the team" during the regular season, when yards really matter, indicating he would no longer be celebrating touchdowns with dunks.
Payton, meanwhile, dismissed the sideline spat on Friday as water under the bridge.
"Listen, I'm his biggest fan," Payton said, via ESPN. "And I'm sure as we get going here, that type of thing isn't going to be a problem. You know, rules are changing constantly whether we like them or whether we voted for them or any of those things. But listen, he's outstanding. He'll be ready to go. And then what took place in the meeting will be between he and I."
The dunk rule, colloquially known as the "Jimmy Graham Rule," seemingly was passed in response to Graham knocking the goalposts ajar twice last season with his celebratory dunks, which led to the games being delayed while the goalposts were reset.
"You know, for four years and however many touchdowns, I've always dunked it. And I just gotta stop doing that now," Graham said. "... 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. And I feel like a little kid out there. And sometimes I act like it."
