Dance fever: a big show in the NFL from week to week

Bobby Engram will put his signature Sprinkler dance up against anyone else's celebratory routine in the NFL.

The dance is bound to be a big hit in Seattle, especially if the Seahawks make the playoffs. It's already spread to Engram's cohorts at wide receiver — Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson join in with Engram when one of the three scores a touchdown.

"Mine is the best. The Sprinkler, yeah, I'm going to put it out there," Engram playfully boasted. "I've seen some good ones, but that was original."

The Seahawks' twinkle-toed trio of receivers is only a small part of a big show in the NFL from week to week, in which athletes seek to entertain the millions of fans across the nation with their play as well as their expressions of joy.

From rookies to veterans, receivers to defensive linemen, every player who wants to entertain is trying his best to outperform someone on another team. It's all in good fun and friendly competition, and fans, teammates, opposing players and even coaches get a kick out of the originality and showmanship of celebrations.

"Veterans don't outgrow it," Seahawks cornerback Shawn Springs said. "That's the fun about being in the league. We all sit around and we're thinking about different things (to do). I thought T.O. (San Francisco receiver Terrell Owens) and the pompoms, that was hilarious to me. You never know when you get into the end zone."

Like him or not, the controversial Owens has performed some of the most original dances after touchdowns, including one during a home game in a rainstorm last season. Owens ran to the back of the end zone where the 49ers' cheerleaders were gathered, grabbed two pompoms and danced along with the cheerleaders for a few seconds.

Critics and so-called purists say such actions are displays of taunting and should be penalized or at least kept in check by the league. But most players know their limits, and after the years of being stifled and penalized for excessive celebration in high school and college, they take advantage of the ability to dance and celebrate upon arrival to the NFL.

"Once they take the restraints off, you get loose," Robinson said.

For the Seahawks, Engram has the Sprinkler, in which he bends one elbow behind his head and pumps it, then extends the other arm and moves it side to side like a pulsating sprinkler jet. Jackson does the Squirrel, in which he slides back and forth in a semi-crouch, then holds up both hands and bounces up and down on his knees. Robinson just prefers to flex his biceps.

"I'm not dancing this year, I'm just flexing. That's going to be my trademark," Robinson said.

But celebrating isn't limited to the offense. The Seahawks and other teams have defensive players who enjoy the spotlight. It's just that they dance after sacks or interceptions, because getting in the end zone is such a rarity.

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard shakes his shoulders and torso. Defensive tackle Norman Hand has the Big Wiggle (use your imagination) and linebacker Anthony Simmons drops down on one knee, stares at his hand and shakes his head, a routine he picked up from former Seahawk Levon Kirkland.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis' pregame-introduction dance is a sight to see, even if his hip thrusts can be a little graphic.

"Ray just gets buck (crazy)," Engram said. "That's aggressive and I like that, but that's Ray. That's a middle linebacker. That wouldn't look right if I did it."

"Guys grew up watching me and other guys who played the game dance," said 14-year veteran John Randle. "When you're watching the game, you're saying to yourself, 'If I could play in the NFL, I would get up and dance, too.' Playing football is hard work, guys are just having fun and enjoying it. A week of dedication, a week of practice, and ... you get in a game and it all comes together. You get a touchdown or a sack or an interception and you're like, 'Man, it worked! It really worked!' It's not like you've got a mike in your hand and you can say, 'Hey, I scored a touchdown! Hey, look!' "

In his younger days, Randle became known for his gestures and gyrations after sacks. He's beyond all of that now, but loves to see other defensive linemen do their thing after a touchdown. Randle particularly enjoyed Warren Sapp's tribute to pop singer Beyoncé, a backside bounce and hop after the Buccaneers' star caught a touchdown pass.

"For us, scoring a touchdown, that's something we hope and dream for every game," Randle said. "It may cost you a little bit of money, but it's worth it. You've got a touchdown and you've got a dance. Why should receivers and running backs have all the fun? Why can't we get a little bit of that?"

Dances and celebrations have been in the NFL for four decades. Elmo Wright of the Kansas City Chiefs is credited with the first touchdown celebration when, in 1974, he ran in place in the end zone with high knees. Then came former Houston Oiler Billy "White Shoes" Johnson with his "Funky Chicken."

Butch Johnson of the Dallas Cowboys did the California Quake in the end zone, and Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets celebrated sacks with an intense and violent body shake and shiver.

Over the years, the NFL began to penalize what it deemed "excessive celebrations" in games, but that didn't stop the players, who would dance on the sideline if barred in the end zone. These days, almost anything goes. Anyone doing something resembling a throat-slashing gesture, like the one Bengals' wide receiver Chad Johnson used against the Seahawks last month, draws an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and a possible fine.

Still, the debate about how much is too much seems to accompany every new routine that makes the highlight shows.

"People make too much of it. They say it's a show of individualism or, you know, it's putting yourself above the team, but I think the majority of the guys are just having fun and trying to entertain the crowd," Engram said. "You might do something you think is cool and you might look dumb or be embarrassed by it later, but at the time, you're having fun and it's all good."

And the Sprinkler? Still hot. But Engram could try something new in the future.

"I might do something in a couple of weeks if I score," he said.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com