TD Celebrations: Having fun or showing off?

Chad Ochocinco, I hope you're listening.

Two incidents involving touchdown celebrations occurred this weekend. The first involved Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Falcons defensive lineman John Abraham. The second involved a CBS broadcaster and a lot of New York Jets, particularly Shonn Greene and Rex Ryan.

So, now we examine the difference between having a good time and rubbing it in.

In the case of Aaron Rodgers, Abraham decided that, being down by two touchdowns against one of the league's most talented quarterbacks, a sack entitled him to make fun of Rodgers's championship belt celebration. Rodgers responded by driving down for an eventual rushing touchdown (which he himself ran) and exaggerating the celebration.

As far as the original cele goes, there's really no problem. The guy likes it when his team scores, so he does a cool little move as part of the excitement. It's not like he demands attention or gets in anybody's face.

How do I know? The simplicity of Rodgers's move is the big clue here. If he wanted attention he'd come up with something that got his whole body involved and probably lasted at least a little longer. But this is no different than a fist pump, except that it's much more original.

In the case of the two staging a celebration battle over it, I don't see a problem either. Abraham was foolish to do what he did given the circumstances, there's no doubt about that. But he did it because he was caught up in the moment. When you're as frustrated as the Falcons were, you look for small things to get adrenaline pumping. That's exactly why he did what he did. And as for Rodgers's response, good for him. He was basically showing Abraham what happens when you mock an opponent stronger than you.

But the celebration involving Shonn Greene and many Jets teammates was completely uncalled for.

I didn't have a problem with his Jets teammates running into the end zone. I did have a problem with Rex Ryan joining them. Sorry, but you're the head coach, dude. Celebrate on the sidelines all you want. But running onto the field as a coach is a no-no. Period. You can say Ryan was caught up in the moment. Uh, so? How many coaches do you think have been in the same situation? How many ran onto the field? That's what I thought. Coaches are held to a higher standard than players. They are expected to behave in a way that provides a good example. But Ryan proved once again that he never grew up. Coaches are supposed to be mature, Rex, and you've been anything but.

And Greene's celebration was fine. Until it became a "nap time" celebration. Such a celebration clearly was made so he could get a camera to look at him. Not to mention the disrespect of it. The game wasn't over yet, but Greene was basically saying that given the circumstances, he might as well sleep for the rest of it. Unacceptable. Get excited all you want. Have your players run in, but no coaches and no "nap time". It goes too far.

People seem to be on opposite ends of the coin when it comes to celebrations, but the truth is that some are OK because they are the result of pure excitement and emotion or the desire to have fun, but there comes a point where a player must remember that the game must be treated with respect.

Act like you've been there before.