NFL says Chiefs' Abdullah shouldn't have been penalized for praying after TD
Denny Medley / USA TODAY Sports
NFL VP of football communications Michael Signora admitted Tuesday that Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah should not have been penalized for praying on the ground after scoring a touchdown Monday.
The rules permit players to go to the ground in celebration if they do so for religious reasons, Signora pointed out.
Abdullah returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs' 41-14 rout of the New England Patriots.
Many fans were outraged that Abdullah was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, with several pointing out that players like Tim Tebow were never penalized for dropping to one knee in prayer.