No Calf Roping? That's a shame.

Think back to when you were young — when you didn't have a worry in the world. Your life was care free and you still felt that pure, uncorrupted love for those activities that made you happy. It may have been sports. It may have been something else.

But you felt it. Hopefully you still do. Hopefully what you love to do is still a part of your life — it could be your job, it could be a hobby.

When you were little you played sports for the love of the game. I know I did. There wasn't any incentive to be good, no million dollar paychecks. You went outside with your friends, grabbed a football and let it fly.

You can tell Jared Allen loves to play the game of football. He's the 6-foot-6, 270 pound defensive end who's a child at heart. Sure, he cut the mullet, but he hasn't changed. Just listen to the way he talks about the game of football. Watch him play on Sundays.

The Idaho State product was drafted in the fourth round and turned himself into a household name with his play on the field. When he was traded to the Vikings, his personality started becoming larger than himself — in a good way. He was this calf-roping cowboy, with a mullet to match. His enthusiasm seeped through your television set whenever he was interviewed.

And his calf-roping sack celebration pulled everything together — his love of the game, his skill, his passion. It represented who he was.

But Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Sunday morning that Allen was notified by the NFL that his celebration was against the rules — and that he would receive a fine and Minnesota would be issued a 15-yard penalty if he did the celebration again.

Think about it for a second, this is a player who isn't hurting the image of the League with his celebration. In fact, I would argue that he's doing the opposite.

Maybe people are right when they call the NFL, the "No Fun League." The antics of Chad Ochocinco and T.O. did go a bit far at times and took away from the true core values of the team and of the game of football. They were punished for those actions, and then some.

Yes, they do go too far. But celebrations shouldn't be banned. There is a limit and the NFL needs to set it, but the limit shouldn't be a no-tolerance policy. No popcorn, no sharpies, no pom-poms, I understand that. But Allen's signature celebration is harmless in comparison, right?

Allen isn't hurting the Vikings when he ropes that calf after a sack. Football is a physical, violent game and it's refreshing to see the excitement and energy that Allen brings. That celebration embodies that youthfulness, that joy. It brings a smile to my face.

I know, as a Vikings fan, I get a rush when I see Allen do that celebration. It's a sight to see.

This isn't just a stand for one Minnesota player's celebration; this is about what's right and what's wrong about the game of football. In today's day and age, sports have lost some its luster — the players aren't placed on such high of a pedestal any more. It's the 24-7 news cycle that does it. We know too much about these guys. They never were perfect — the public just didn't know it. Allen's celebration is the wrong type of activity to be prohibiting.

So when Jared Allen pretends to rope a calf and celebrate a sack, excuse me if I choose to see it as an expression of something deeper than what it looks like on the exterior. He's not poking fun at the opponent.

Remember what it feels like to enjoy what you do. Wouldn't you want to express yourself too?

It's good, clean fun.