The NFL instituted a rule during the offseason that bans players from dunking the football on the goalposts - a signature move for some players, including New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.
The threat of a penalty flag wasn't enough to deter Graham from turning the trick after hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass from Luke McCown on Friday night.
[Courtesy: SB Nation]
While head coach Sean Payton didn't react to the first Graham dunk, when his star tight end did the exact same thing after his second touchdown of the night, Payton took issue with him.
Payton charged down the sideline as Graham came off the field and the two exchanged words. After the game, Payton was asked if he was "particularly upset" by Graham's penalties, which added to a surprising 22 total flags drawn by the Saints.
"Well, would that make sense? Would you be upset? Yeah, I was. Particularly," Payton told reports, via ESPN.
Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief was confident that Graham wouldn't be dunking if it were the regular season.
"I understand Jimmy's frustration with that rule change. I understand what he's doing," Strief explained to ESPN. "And yet it's something, look, if this is a regular-season game, Jimmy's not dunking over the goalpost. Coach Payton was completely, I think, correct to jump on him. Any of us, I think would expect it. I think Jimmy probably expected it."
Graham finished the game with five receptions for 48 yards and the two slam dunk-worthy touchdowns.
