The NFL will emphasize punishing ‘inappropriate’ and ‘sexual’ gestures this year, with imitating a weapon, inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures being cracked down
The NFL will be cracking down on certain gestures this season, with the news coming just days after it was confirmed that the multi-part documentary centered on Colin Kaepernick had been canceled.
On Thursday, NFL officials announced that the league would be looking intently at gestures that could be interpreted as violent and sexually suggestive. This announcement comes after the NFL expanded the prohibited acts to include a “nose-wipe” gesture, which was banned in April.
NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson explained which gestures fans could see included in the crackdown. In the same vein, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid instilled a strict uniform rule for Patrick Mahomes.
“Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133 percent so that is a point of emphasis,” Anderson said.
“The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It’s just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways, so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.”
The unsportsmanlike conduct rule now reads that any “violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the ‘nose wipe’ gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive” will not be tolerated.
What’s more, NFL executive Troy Vincent sent a video to teams that the aforementioned gestures should not be in the game.
“There’s no place in the game to be standing over your opponent,” the video said, per ESPN. “There’s no place in the game to have violent gestures. That’s not the game of football.
“We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.”
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The NFL’s latest change comes roughly eight years after the league opted to loosen its rules when it came to celebratory gestures. Among the celebrations the NFL deemed acceptable were to mimic snow angels and allowing players to celebrate in a group.
Players also were allowed to use the ball as a prop in the revised rules. At the time, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell claimed the loosening of the rules was in part to help the product and its fanbase.
“We know that you love the spontaneous displays of emotion that come after a spectacular touchdown,” Goodell said in 2017, according to ESPN. “And players have told us they want more freedom to be able to express themselves and celebrate their athletic achievements.”
Still, the commissioner made it clear that other gestures would not be tolerated. “Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent, will still be penalized,” he said.
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