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Americans can’t get enough of the NFL, even though so many complain about various things about the league they don’t like. It remains one of the last few common cultural strings that links a large amount of Americans together.
One issue that a lot of fans complain about is a perceived lack of sportsmanship shown by players. The NFL is looking to crack down on such instances starting next season.
A few decades ago, players were doing all sorts of crazy celebrations, like Joe Horn pulling the cell phone out of the goalpost pad to make a call, Randy Moss pretending to moon the Packers crowd, and a ton of different ones by Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens. While players are allowed to celebrate, the elaborate props are essentially not allowed now. That being said, the NFL does allow coreographed team celebrations for both the offense and defense after touchdowns and turnovers.
There are a few things that the NFL does not like when it comes to solo celebrations. Celebrations glorifying violence or drug use are things that the league office would like to eliminate, and they’re taking steps to do just that. Here’s Pro Football Talk with more.
The NFL will double down on sportsmanship next season, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Tuesday.
Violent gestures are up 133 percent and sexual taunting is up 52 percent, Vincent said.
The topic was discussed with coaches, General Managers and owners Tuesday.
“It just has no place in the game,” Vincent said. “We have clear video examples we’ll share with the players and about just what it means to be a professional at all times.”
The NFL added language in Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(d) to make the “nose wipe” celebration illegal. The gesture, made infamous by Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, is a gang sign associated with the Bloods.
Other actions, including but not limited to, a throat slash gesture, simulating firing or brandishing a gun also were cited as examples of specific actions that are prohibited by the unsportsmanlike conduct rule.
“[The nose wipe] has gang connotations; it’s disrespectful,” Vincent said. “It’s just where we are in society. Young men, they come from that era, from that age, and they’ve grown up on social media. If anybody Goggled ‘nose wipe,’ you’ll see the language that is used and where that’s affiliated. I think the players know better. I know they know better.
I’m sure some will decry this as the NFL being the “No Fun League”. But, these seem like reasonable steps to get celebrations nobody particularly wants to see out of the game.