NFL Fans Are Up In Arms About The League’s New Crackdown On Taunting

The NFL has made a lot of new rules in recent years, many of them making sense. But the new crackdown on taunting penalties has fans everywhere up in arms.

On Tuesday, it was reported that the league plans on cracking down on taunting for the 2021-22 season.

Among the NFL rules that will be emphasized this season: Stricter enforcement of taunting penalties.

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) August 10, 2021

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Sure enough, fans swarmed to social media to share their displeasure with how soft the NFL has gotten while pointing to the new taunting rule as a reason.

POV:

THE No Fun League enforcing thier new taunting rules pic.twitter.com/kKBy1XcBk6

— Tingz n Wingz (@TingznWingz) August 10, 2021

OH COME ON..

If there is a little bit of taunting in the competitive world that's GOOD for the game.

I don't like that the NFL is making it a "point of emphasis" to enforce taunting rules. CAN'T HAVE FUN #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/sj7RyTtRDI

— WrestleMania Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 10, 2021

Are players complaining about opposing players taunting or do some people who have never put on a uniform come up with this stuff? I’ve NEVER heard a player say “Stop taunting me” or.. “Coach, he keeps taunting me. Make it stop” lol I don’t get these rules. https://t.co/SMIS1rxqit

— CROCK-MAN⚡️ (@eric_crocker) August 10, 2021

No Fun League never stops 😐 pic.twitter.com/9r8CQ4HLeO

— Vengeance Wood🪵🚀 (@Vengeancewood) August 10, 2021

The “No Fun League” strikes again #NFLTwitter https://t.co/Y6fHFdCWk4

— Bob Ventimiglia @ i80 Sports (@i80_Sports) August 10, 2021

The nfl : we want to grow the game !

Also the no fun league : can’t show emotion and express yourself while playing this physical game pic.twitter.com/CD7OEtTIjf

— jw (@the__johnw) August 10, 2021

NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay spoke on the enhanced taunting rules.

“The NFL Players Association, coaches and competition committee have all made a strong statement regarding respect among everyone on the field,” McKay said in the video. “We saw an increase in actions that clearly are not within the spirit and intent of this rule is not representative of the respect to opponents and others on the field. Game officials have been instructed to strictly enforce the taunting rules, and players and coaches are reminded that two taunting penalties committed by an individual player will result in automatic disqualification. In addition, the taunting player may be fined and/or suspended depending on the severity of the actions.”

The NFL also re-iterated their continued efforts to crack down on helmet hits for next season.

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