The rules against taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct have gotten more stringent over the years. And if you thought NFL stood more for the “No Fun League” than the National Football League, then you definitely won’t like what they may consider doing during the off-season.
H/T: CBS Sports
NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino said he’s “sure” the competition committee will look into instituting a rule similar to the NCAA’s. In college, a player flagged for taunting on a play that results in a touchdown nullifies the score — and it’s a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
“A lot of people felt that the touchdown shouldn’t have counted [but] a taunting foul is always treated as a dead-ball foul, meaning whatever happened during the play counts, and the foul is enforced on the next play, which would be the kickoff,” Blandion said during an appearance one NFL Network (via PFT.com).
“In college, this action would take back the touchdown. Tate started taunting at the 25-yard line. The college rule, that’s enforced at the spot of the foul, so they’d go from a touchdown to first-and-10 at the 40, which would be a gigantic penalty. The NFL rule, it’s a dead-ball foul, it’s enforced on the kickoff. But I’m sure that’s something that the Competition Committee will look at in the offseason.”
Quite contrary to what Roger Goodell may have you think, the NFL is all about entertainment…just ask Jerry Jones. In my opinion calling back touchdowns for taunting would be a huge mistake that would cause more problems than it would solve. I frankly miss the days of creative end-zone celebrations and added player flair. Assess the dead ball penalty like you do now, but negating an entire touchdown drive would be excessive.