For 2021, the NFL Competition Committee issued a point of emphasis directing the officials to strictly flag a player for unsportsmanlike conduct if they taunt an opponent, through words and actions that disrespect or demean. At the time I predicted that players and coaches would adapt to the new emphasis point after
Tag: taunting
Controversy flares over taunting point of emphasis. As always, officials are stuck in the middle
New point of emphasis aims to reduce taunting during dead-ball periods
Officiating video: spiking in bench area, low blocks, picks, forward pitches
Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron released the week 17 officiating video (below). In it he covered, among other things, a taunting situation with Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson in their season finale against the Patriots. Anderson caught a pass and went out bounds inside the Patriots sideline. As
NFL Week 1 officiating video: illegal kicks and more
 Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron released the week 1 officiating video today (video below). Among the numerous items to discuss, Riveron first discussed the defenseless player rule. In this particular play from Monday night, Vikings' running back Dalvin Cook was attempting to catch a pass out of the backfield
50 Super Bowl calls, Part 4: XX to XI
NFL orders crack down on taunting, offensive language
2014 Points of Emphasis In light of some high-profile on-field incidents of taunting and offensive language in the 2013 season, the NFL is instructing its officials to crack down on acts of taunting and abusive language against players and officials beginning this fall by calling unsportsmanlike conduct fouls on the offenders. It is
NFL may consider wiping out touchdowns if player taunts during live ball
NCAA rule on Competition Committee agenda There was quite a bit of chatter in the aftermath of Seattle Seahawks' wide receiver Golden Tate's over the top taunting on his way to the end zone and a Seahawks' touchdown (video).  The NFL fined Tate $7,875 for his unsportsmanlike conduct and the officials penalized
After Further Review: OT flag on new rule draws shrug from Belichick
Training tape: defenseless receiver, taunting, clock on out-of-bounds fumble
Dean Blandino, NFL vice president of officiating, released this week's media tape regarding rules calls mostly from Week 4 (150 MB download). This week's topics: When defenseless protections end. The play in question was a legal hit on Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, correctly called (SJ 67 Doug Rosenbaum, BJ 93 Scott