Dec 21st 2008 2:16PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Patriots
As the NFL’s crackdown on players celebrating continues, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker got the season’s first penalty for making a snow angel.

It’s a blizzard in New England today, and after Welker scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, he decided to take advantage of the conditions for his celebration: He hopped on the ground, got on his back and made an angel. His teammates looked amused, but the officials didn’t: The Patriots were assessed 15 yards on ensuing kickoff for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Welker isn’t the first Patriot to make a snow angel; long snapper Lonnie Paxton famously did one when the Patriots beat the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs.

The Cardinals didn’t have nearly as much fun in the snow as the Patriots; New England won 47-7.