There was some confusion last week as to why the Dallas Cowboys were slapped with their second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration in as a many weeks. Most (including us) just assumed it was Miles Austin’s leap-frog of Roy Williams in the end zone after Williams scored--Austin thought as much himself, going so far as to apologize to teammates.
After a phone call to the league office, however, Austin was let off the hook; the league told head coach Wade Phillips that it was Sam Hurd flashing the international symbol for “rock-n-roll,” as Roy Williams flashed the similar “Hook-em-horns” hand sign that had drawn the flag, and not Austin’s impressive display of leapfrogging.
Taking a cue from Austin, Hurd apologized to his teammates. But he wasn’t happy about the call, upon receiving the news.
"I was like man, you can't do nothing. This league is amazing. ... [I was] stunned but then I apologized to my team, because I felt that hurt them," Hurd said, per the Dallas Morning News. "Just like Miles felt when he thought it was on him. It's not a good feeling. It's not a good thing to do for your team.
“You want to be least penalized as a team and it starts with everybody. It starts with me. We will not anymore, in the game, off the game, whatever.”
After the penalty, the Dallas offense employed a simple handshake in lieu of any flashier, potentially-flag-worth showings. Hurd said the receivers may continue this practice in the future. Then again...
"You may not even get those,'' he said. "You just get a wink now that you did a good job.''
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