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Brandin Cooks says the NFL won't stop him from his bow-and-arrow touchdown celebration

Cooks promises he'll continue his signature celebration, even though Josh Norman has been fined for the gesture.

By Alex Reimer
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL has been cracking down on celebrations this season, but apparently that's not going to stop New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks from engaging in a little fun. In an interview with the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Cooks says he'll continue his trademark bow-and-arrow touchdown celebration, despite the league fining Washington cornerback Josh Norman $10,000 for the gesture last week.

"I'm going to figure it out, but I'm not going to change it," Cooks said. "The league will have to deal with it. The reason for why I'm doing it and what's behind why I'm doing it doesn't have anything to do with violence."

In a conversation Tuesday with SB Nation's Saints blog, Canal Street Chronicles, Cooks said the gesture was originally inspired by the show Arrow and movie Hunger Games. But then when he came across a passage in the Bible about a boy named Ishmael who used his archery skills to survive in the desert without water, the celebration took on an even bigger meaning to him.

Though mimicking a violent act is an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Cooks has never been penalized for mimicking a bow and arrow. In fact, it's become a part of his brand. His Instagram handle is "thearcher10" and the NFL even featured a video of his celebration on its Twitter feed last year.

Cooks isn't the only wide receiver who's threatened to bypass the NFL's no fun protocol this season -- and some, such as Browns WR Andrew Hawkins, have even gone out of their way to do the lamest celebrations possible. New York Jets wideout Brandon Marshall said last week he would celebrate his next touchdown with a twerk celebration, channeling Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, who's been fined twice for pelvic thrusting in the end zone. But when Marshall did reel in a touchdown, there was no thrusting to be found.

But if Cooks snags a touchdown Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, everyone, including the NFL, will be watching to see what he does.

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