The NFL, not content to simply penalize dirty hits, is also planning to punish dirty mouths.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that, following fights like Thursday night’s shovefest between the Patriots and the Jets, the league plans to tighten up its policing of profanity on the field.
Some referee crews warned players about on-field profanities in Week 1 and will look to use taunting penalties to punish players who use such language going forward — but most likely just when that profanity is directed at another player, according to Mortensen. “The NFL Competition Committee recommended emphasis on such verbal abuse,” he writes.
The league wants to cut back on “actions [verbal or otherwise] directed at an opponent,” NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told Mortensen.
While profanity is not against the rules, directing it at another player crosses the line, according to the report.
So everyone play nice now, you hear?
