NFL wants to keep taunting crackdown in place in 2022
One of the NFL's most controversial rule changes is coming back in 2022. The league wants to continue its strict enforcement of taunting penalties next season, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent reportedly relayed that information to the league's competition committee Tuesday.
NFL's Troy Vincent said he does not foresee any major change to the emphasis on sportsmanship next season that led to officials' strict taunting enforcement last season.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 1, 2022
The NFL and competition committee reviewed all 61 taunting penalties from the 2021 NFL season. Of those, both sides agreed 56 were the types of calls referees should enforce next season.
Of 61 taunting penalties last season, the league and competition committee believe 56 were what the NFL would want called again next season.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 1, 2022
Given how many members of the NFL's competition committee supported the increased focus on taunting last season, it looks like the crackdown will continue moving forward.
NFL fans not happy with taunting calls
The league is happy to continue cracking down on taunting, but fans might not feel the same way. The increase in taunting flags didn't go over well among NFL fans. One former NFL player went so far as to say the new rule was "ruining the game." Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady also criticized the new rule.
Two weeks into the 2021 NFL season, officials penalized players for taunting 11 times. That figure matched the total number of taunting penalties from the 2020 NFL season. That did not deter the NFL. A report from September suggested the league was happy with the taunting crackdown. Of those 11 penalties, the NFL reportedly agreed with nine.
The league's stance remains the same now. Like it or not, the taunting crackdown is here to stay. Don't expect to see many peace signs from Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill when he blows past defenders on his way to the end zone in 2022.
