Fans bash the NFL as taunting penalties continue to ruin games

The NFL might as well stand for No Fun League.

Four years ago, the NFL shied away from its most controversial rule: the celebrations. After years of punishing players for, well, celebrating big plays, the NFL heard the fans' appeals and relaxed the rules. They allowed players to celebrate touchdowns again as well as sacks, safeties, and other big plays.

However, the league is now back to disallowing players, and fans, from having fun in other ways.

NFL and taunting

Earlier this year, the NFL announced that during the 2021 season, there would be greater emphasis on enforcing taunting penalties.

New York Giants owner and member of the Competition Committee, John Mara, justified the league's position by saying:

"We get kind of sick & tired of the taunting that does go on from time to time on the field…. Nobody wants to see a player taunting another player."

Maybe, just maybe, if Mara did a better job with the Giants, other teams and fans would not taunt his team so much, and the matter would not be an issue for him. However, this is of course only speculation on why he is such a huge defender of the new emphasis.

As soon as the NFL announced its changes to the taunting penalties, fans reacted. It seemed apparent it was a bad idea, and no one liked it. Things only got worse when pre-season games began.

The taunting penalties called by the NFL referees have made a lot of fans mad. The No Fun League is back, and while everybody hoped things would change in the regular season, no changes being rung in so far. The fans are worried not only about the fun but also the injustices.

The fans had their first bad omen in yesterday's game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans.

After Hawks cornerback DJ Reed made a great play to break up a pass intended for AJ Brown; he stood up and flexed towards Brown. It was a typical and deserved celebration; after all, Reed deflected the pass in a big fourth-quarter play.

The referees punished him with a taunting penalty because of his celebration. The Titans gained 15 yards and an automatic first down. Fortunately for the Seahawks, the Titans turned the ball over on downs a few plays later. But what if they had not?

Is it fair for the NFL to change a game because of a player's moment of happiness?

Taunting the NFL

The new emphasis on taunting by the NFL needs to change, and virtually all fans agree.

Carushow must be be really happy and thankful he plays in the NBA rather than the NFL.