PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : End Zone Celebration Rules Modified

The NFL modified its penalties for end zone celebrations Thursday, keeping the $1,000 fine for tossing footballs into the seats but rescinding the five-yard penalty that had been included. High-fives no longer cost celebrants five yards, but some end zone dances will.

Through the first three weeks of the season, 12 penalties have been assessed after touchdowns--six for high-fives, three each for throwing balls into the stands and end zone dances. The yardage penalty was criticized after Denver quarterback John Elway scored and flipped the ball to a fan in a wheelchair.

“After seeing the fan reaction to these particular penalties, it became apparent that a kinder, gentler approach was needed,” Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. “These are really crowd-control issues that need not be flagged as part of the responsibilities of game officials. We will deal with them in a different way.”

Keith Millard, the Minnesota Vikings’ all-pro defensive tackle, decided to have knee surgery and will be lost for the rest of the season.

“The best thing for me right now is surgery so I can continue my career,” said Millard, who tore a ligament in his right knee early last season. “I will be back and I’ll be back at full force.”

Art Schlichter, the former NFL quarterback twice suspended by the league for gambling, met for several hours with Jay Moyer, the NFL’s executive vice president and legal counsel about possible reinstatement. Tagliabue said he will make a decision soon. . . . The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles rejected New Orleans quarterback Bobby Hebert’s challenge to the NFL’s Plan B restrictions on free agents’ ability to change teams. Hebert said in his suit that he was prevented from signing with the Raiders last season, and did not play at all, because the Raiders were unwilling to compensate the Saints, as required by Plan B.