I understand your point, but I see a huge difference in jumping offsides and pointing into the stands. Since day one of pee-wee football they've known that offsides has been illegal. If pointing is seriously going to be penalized, I have a problem with that. Unless I'm mistaken, it has been widely allowed for.....nearly always.
I can think of the exception being that high school kid in Dallas that lost his team the state championship for a quarter of a second point to the stands. That was sickening.
I remember that play you are talking about and I think it would be hard finding many people thinking the ref called that one right, even if they are against celebrations such that I am.
You make an interesting point about pee-wee football. College has had pretty strict celebration penalties as you can?t even spike the ball. Rarely has those affected the outcome of a game, unless you are a knucklehead like Jake Locker. I?ve liked that college has this stance as I feels it keeps it out of the lower leagues, high school and such. Does anyone think you need to see a high schooler doing a TD dance or showboating after a first down? How about a pee-wee/Pop Warner? If not, then why do I need to see someone from the NFL prancing about to make the game better?
If people think the celebrations are part of the ?entertainment? factor of the NFL then we simply have different opinions on what?s entertainment. I think the sport and game is the entertainment, while the other side is probably more concerned who is doing the half time show in the stadium or singing the pregame song for the primetime tv audience.