The newly introduced taunting rule is intended to make it easier to punish unsportsmanlike gestures in the direction of the opposing team. However, since the referees have too much room for manoeuvre, there is regular criticism from players and fans. The NFL is now reacting to this in a strange way.
Munich – Seahawks coach Pete Carroll detests it, Rams coach Sean McVay is not a big fan and a large part of the media landscape is not convinced by the NFL’s new taunting rule.
The rule roughly states that players are required to refrain from making unsportsmanlike gestures in the direction of the opponent after a successful action. Starting this season, referees can impose severe penalties on the entire team for violations that negate a successful first down or move the team back 15 yards.
Criticism reaches climax – NFL introduces new term
Criticism of the rulebook reached its peak last week. In the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears, Bears linebacker Cassius Marsh was penalised for staring in the direction of the Steelers bench for a brief moment after a successful play.
In the official explanation video of the NFL referees for critical scenes on the last game day, a new term was used to explain the Marsh scene, which made people sit up and take notice. So the Bears defender would have “posed” in the direction of the Steelers bench, which was forbidden.
SVP of @NFL Officiating Perry Fewell covers plays from Week 9: pic.twitter.com/vXZzsnup46
– NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) November 10, 2021
The flag is to be thrown if players stare at the opponent’s face, point their fingers at the opponent or stand over opponents lying on the ground. Since these terms have already been interpreted generously by the referees, the new term brings even more problems with it.
Understanding and irregularity are inevitable
From now on, should referees throw a flag whenever a player “poses” incorrectly in their discretion, new trouble is pre-programmed. With such vague definitions, it is difficult to assume that all referees on the field will interpret the rule consistently.
Due to the pre-season adjustment that successful plays are reversed by these flags, the rule could even decide games in tricky situations. It’s hard to imagine the outcry when a team is knocked out of the playoffs by a referee’s subjective decision.
Despite massive criticism from some players, coaches, media representatives and above all the fans via social media, the league still sees itself in the right and insists on the rule adjustments. The issue is likely to remain an unwelcome companion to the season for some time to come.
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