Fans React To NFL Memo, Video Re-Emphasizing Rules Against ‘Taunting Or Disrespect’

• The NFL just sent teams a new memo, and a video, re-emphasizing the new rules against “acts of taunting or disrespect.”
• Reactions by NFL fans on social media to this controversial point of emphasis by the NFL were not terribly positive.
• More NFL news here.

This week the NFL reportedly sent teams a new memo, and video, re-emphasizing the new taunting rules and reaffirming that it is, in fact, the No Fun League.

If it seems like there has been an abundance of taunting penalties called by NFL referees in recent weeks, that’s because there has been.

From weeks 1 through 7 there were 19 penalty flags thrown for taunting. In weeks 8 through 10, there were 16.

The NFL would apparently like to see that controversial trend continue.

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, in the video that accompanied the memo, Senior Vice President of Officiating Training and Development Walt Anderson told NFL teams, “Appropriate celebration, enthusiasm and sharing great moments with our teammates and fans is encouraged. The emphasis by the NFL to discourage acts of taunting or disrespect, when you direct actions toward an opponent or his bench, will continue. Officials are instructed to call fouls on actions that demonstrate that disrespect.”

He continued, “Avoid any actions where you approach an opponent or his bench and gesture, posture or otherwise demonstrate any verbal or physical form of disrespect. Turn away. Take the opportunity to celebrate with your teammates and don’t put officials in the position of having to make a judgment about whether or not your actions rise to the level of a foul. Remove all doubt and don’t put yourself or your team at risk of a penalty.”

Notably absent from the video? Referee Tony Corrente’s horrific taunting penalty against Chicago Bears pass-rusher Cassius Marsh.

“Appropriate celebration, enthusiasm and sharing great moments with our teammates and fans is encouraged,” NFL senior vice president of officiating training and development Walt Anderson said in an accompanying video. “The emphasis by the NFL to discourage acts of taunting or disrespect, when you direct actions toward an opponent or his bench, will continue. Officials are instructed to call fouls on actions that demonstrate that disrespect.”

Related: NFL Fans Roast Bears Coach Matt Nagy For Defending The League’s Taunting Rules

Much like Washington coach Ron Rivera, Anderson says the NFL is just trying to think of the children.

“When our youth see us making a great play and then showing up an opponent that sends the message to them that such behavior is OK. But that is not the message that we want to promote for our great game,” said Anderson.

Needless to say, reactions by NFL fans on social media to this ridiculous point of emphasis by the NFL were not terribly positive.

Many other fans, however, are all for the NFL’s taunting crackdown.