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NFL officials will penalize taunting more in 2021
Chris Cwik
Chris Cwik
Wed, April 21, 2021, 5:06 PM·1 min read
Prepare to see more flags during NFL games soon. The league's officials will crack down harder on taunting in 2021, according to the NFL's competition committee report chairman Rich McKay.

Coaches aren't worried about team touchdown celebrations. They want officials to focus on players going face-to-face, standing over each other or pointing fingers after big plays.


McKay said NFL coaches asked for this change.

Why is the NFL cracking down on taunting?
It's unclear why coaches wanted taunting to be a point of emphasis. It's possible they felt taunting could lead to fights or more personal fouls later in the game.

While that's a fair concern, the move could have more negative consequences on teams. At what point does a referee deem a celebration after a big play a taunt? Breaking up a pass and holding up a peace sign resulted in a penalty in the Super Bowl, but Tyreek Hill's peace sign touchdown celebration did not draw a penalty flag in the regular season. Will both be penalties now? There's a chance cracking down on taunting could erase some huge plays depending on how the rule is written.

Even if the coaches have good intentions with the rule, the promise of more flags on the field isn't encouraging.

I dislike the taunting I see. I think most probably do.

Coach Stefanski has some work to do because we have some characters that like to show emotion after a big play - often in the face of or around the other teams players. We need to have a goal of ZERO taunting calls.

Who are some concerns we have on our team? Landry?

something tells me OBJ, Baker, and Landry will get a few flags/fines this year.

I see that my fellow posters have a keen eye for our potential offenders. I hear it's 15 yards for the first one and ejection for the 2nd one.

So glad to see the NFL confronting one of the major issues facing today's game: players being mean to each other.

Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life here ...

It's just so deflating when you see them get those penalties, especially after they have a big play. Or a TD that now results in a missed extra point.

As far as other teams go, though, good luck, Chase Claypool...

I think Browns fans could call this 'the Landry Rule'. His celebrations are all about getting up in the face of defenders.

They have to make more room for changing games,

So that teams the city of New York "wants" to win,

actually win.

... because what the NFL needed most was more vague, subjective rules for the refs to enforce....

In what way does taunting negatively affect the game?

j/c

I'd rather see a rule that uses replay to punish the guy who STARTS the/an altercation vs the guy who defends himself. We've had replay for years...we've seen countless instances where the guy who started it gets away with it...and even "draws" a penalty from the guy defending himself. It's usually VERY obvious...rather than the subjectivity of what constitutes taunting.

I'd rather see something other than an additional vague, subjective rule for the refs to interpret. We already have taunting rules that, per the article, are already being applied differently.

I agree. Make the play and head back to the huddle.

Another point on taunting. The refs are down on the field. They hear what is being said and know what is building between a couple of players, so when a flag is tossed, it might not be totally for what was done in the moment but thrown for what had been building.

I think the refs caution the players as all that is going on, and we don't really see that, so when the flag is tossed for something we might consider rinky dink, there is probably a good deal behind rhe flag that we don't see or know.

I blame the pussification of America on participation trophy's. The inability to handle conflict created the perpetually offended.

Well, I agree, but maybe we are getting a bit out of lane in this forum. lol

As long as taunting is actual in the face taunting, but if it's simple jumping up, and making some comment, then let it go. But I also think a lot of it is body language and vocal inflection. You can tell fun natured banter from spiteful taunting.

And that is what refs hear that we don't.

And we have to remember the coaches are in favor of the rule. They hear when other players are egging on one of their players.

Well, this makes Landry a target for enforcement, someone to make an example of, etc, etc... He basically has to become a choir boy for a season or so to get the target off his back.

And I agree with oober 100%. QUIT adding layers of subjectivity to already existing rules. We did that with the simple act of catching a freaking ball to the point of nobody on the planet even knowing what constituted a catch from week to week. Just stop.

All very good points...I'd bet some coaches on certain teams just LUVLUVLUV the added subjectivity...as it will most-certainly end up in their favor.

Yeah, all I know is there will be a very controversial call at some point, at the worst time.

How so?

I don't think they would change calls if they are still dead ball fouls. I suppose a TD could be called off if the taunting occurred before a player actually scored.

It's a pretty simple rule to follow...no?

Not if enforcement of the rule is all over the place.

Edit: Nevermind - bad example.

Well, sure

Well, sure. That probably applies to all calls.

The article said not so much TD celebrations. It said taunting. If you get up after the play and walk away, no taunting. I don't see how it could be any more clear or simple to comply.

Should be easy for the Browns. Emulate the on-field behavior of Nick Chubb, and you'll never get a taunting penalty.

The article itself already had an example queued up of how taunting rules are not consistently enforced. Making it a point of emphasis with additional subjective rule-layering will only further cloud the issue.

And I'll admit that the only reason I'm getting as wound up about this is because it took me reading all of 2-3 sentences to think of Landry and how this is going to affect him on gamedays.

Honestly, as a fan I get taunted all the time because the team I root for... if we beat destroy the Steelers and receive 150 yards in taunting penalties I'm ok with that.

Oober already stole my response. The hypothetical I envision is there is some jawing done by both, but only one player gets flagged...and it happens in the late fourth quarter on a GW drive.

I think that would pretty much end the whole mic'd up thing for our team.

I don't remember if the comment was on here or elsewhere, but the game Chubb was mic'd up it was just audio of him grunting and the mic picking up teammates congratulating him.

I think that this, along with personal fouls, should be reviewable. Too often the 2nd get gets nailed, while the instigator gets off Scott-free.

Or don’t penalize for taunting because who cares.

I suppose that could happen, in which case our player is the only one to blame. Well maybe the coaches as well for not coaching that out of them.

It's nearing the end of April. They have 4+ months to get it done.

j/c

I had no idea that expecting men to act in a responsible manner would be so controversial. Taunting is immature at best and just plain juvenile. Actually I think it's the exact opposite of "pussification".

Conducting yourself as a man rather than a child isn't some far fetched idea. At least it didn't use to be.

It's not that I disagree with what you're saying here. I wish our whole team acted like Chubb on gameday. It's that taunting is bad (or worse now than it was last year(?)), but TD celebrations are ok. You'd think the rule would at least jive with what you're saying in that post, but it doesn't even do that. Needlessly complicates a non-issue.

I see a big difference in the celebration of something good and taunting someone. Even during a celebration if you do it in your opponents face it's taunting.

Like many my only real worry is the consistency of enforcing the rule.

I was going to say the same when I saw your reply. Players can still celebrate a big play. Garrett can still celebrate a sack without problem unless he is doing it over the QB's head or some receiver after a TD catch spins the ball in somebody's face or at their feet.

Lol, but so true.

I like it. Getting in someones face after a play, to me, is juvenile and selfish. Kids watch the games and emulate the players when they themselves are playing. I see so many high school players pointing at their name on their jersey, and other actions to draw attention to themselves like the pros do. IMO, it is poor sportsmanship. Act professional.