Jimmy Graham doesn't regret his goalpost dunks on Friday against the Tennessee Titans, but the New Orleans Saints tight end admitted that he will have to stop performing his touchdown celebration routine.
Graham earned the ire of Saints coach Sean Payton after the 27-year-old drew two penalty flags with his goalpost dunk. Reacting to the incident, Graham said that he will be forced to stop doing such action even if he sees nothing wrong with it.
"You know, for four years and however many touchdowns, I've always dunked it. And I just gotta stop doing that now," Graham said via ESPN.
Payton, who had a shouting match with Graham after the latter's second goalpost dunk, but the two of them have already settled their differences in a meeting over the weekend.
"Listen, I'm his biggest fan," Payton said. "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 voted for them or any of those things. But listen, he's outstanding. He'll be ready to go."
Graham, who has been vocal about his opposition to the new rule that banned goalpost dunk, played down the emotional exchange between him and Payton, saying that he has high respect for his coach.
"Well, you know, Coach over the last couple weeks, we've met quite a bit and talked about a lot of things. And that's what makes him so special is he has a personal relationship with every one of us. And he treats us like men and expects us to act like men," Graham said.
The NFL banned Graham's usual touchdown celebration this offseason with sources calling the rule as the "Jimmy Graham Rule" as sources indicated that two incidents where the five-year veteran knocked two goal post forced the league to ban goalpost dunks.
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