(11-12-2021, 03:08 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote:

(11-12-2021, 02:09 PM)Bullseye Wrote: Not so much defending taunting, per se.


As long as I can remember, taunting was covered under the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties (see Telvin Smith in playoffs vs Steelers 2017 season).

But with an emphasis on it, officials are now actively looking for it, which will lead to more penalties called whether truly warranted or not.  The flow of the games will be disrupted even more than it is now.  There will be more 8nstances of officials determining the outcomes of games, and more suspicions of referee and league bias, as evidenced by this past Bears Steelers matchup.

Ok, but if they are penalizing then why must they keep doing it? What is so important about being able to taunt that it warrants a defense? As someone else said, there's a pretty easy way to not get a taunting penalty, why do it?

Again not defending taunting, per se.  It's more an aversion to giving officials an excuse to throw more flags.

That said, given the possibility of misinterpreting intent, and given the competitive and emotional nature of football, I am unsure an increased emphasis on taunting is altogether productive.  How does a ref distinguish between fun, good natured smack talk or banter, an emotional outburst after an important play, and mean spirited taunting?

I don't see the advantage 8n censoring the people who have the most influence over the outcome of the game.

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