OWNERS MEETINGS NFL cracks down on celebrations

The owners also approved a modified instant replay system for five years.
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Skip the line dance. Stop rolling the dice. Drop the phony photo taking.
Or else it will cost you and your team.
NFL players who participate in such group celebrations will be penalized 15 yards. They'll be fined, too.
"Leave the dancing to Broadway," Carolina Panthers coach John Fox said Wednesday when NFL owners concluded their meetings by adopting the 15-yard penalties for Terrell Owens/Joe Horn-type demonstrations, especially when they are orchestrated by groups of players.
So if Horn pulls out a cell phone from under the goalpost again, the Saints will be hurt by it.
And if Owens, now with the Eagles, has a pen in his sock and uses it to autograph a football after a touchdown -- 15 yards.
"All of the sudden, now you've got a 15-yard penalty following one of those," Fox said. "As a head coach, that's quite a penalty. I think it puts more pressure on the coaches and the players not to get carried away.
"It's still a team game. I don't mind guys getting a little excited because it's an emotional game. Act like you've been there before."
Fines went up from 18 in 2002 to 61 for such shenanigans last season. Team owners were embarrassed, believing those displays are tantamount to taunting. So they voted 31-1 for the penalties, with Oakland dissenting.
"We accomplished quite a lot at these meetings, on and off the field," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.
Instant replay
Among the other accomplishments was the passage of a modified instant replay system for five years. Now, coaches who successfully challenge twice will get a third challenge.
Last season, only Carolina had two successful challenges. In fact, 85 games last year (33 percent) had no challenges at all.
"Is this a big change?" competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said. "I don't think so."
A new emphasis on enforcing existing rules properly also was approved, focusing on illegal contact against receivers outside five yards from the line of scrimmage. Too often, coaches said, receivers were being hit, pushed or having their jerseys held when they were past the five-yard limit.
Of course, more flags means longer, slower games. But the league wants to kick-start the passing game after yards through the air went down 10 per game, an 11-year low.
Other items
Owners also approved:
UExpansion of practice squads from five to eight players, something coaches have pushed for in the last few years. "There are times during the year where you're so beat up, even with the practice guys that you have, that you can't even practice," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said. "You've got to have guys go on both sides of the ball."
UAllowing the head coach to call a timeout by signaling to any official on the field. In the past, a player had to call the timeouts.
UStopping the clock as soon as a punt hits the end zone. Previously, the clock didn't stop until the ball was whistled dead.
UMaking it illegal for a receiving team to advance the ball once a fair catch has been signaled. In the past, they could advance the ball if it hit the ground. The only exception is if the kicking team touches the ball first.