The NFL’s newfound emphasis on what they consider taunting is an utter embarrassment to the sport. A few stinkers here and there in preseason is one thing, but it is unacceptable for a league that is now partnered with sports betting to be so dependent on these calls that are up to nothing but the completely subjective opinions of NFL officials.
Make no mistake: the Bears lost Monday Night Football because of one of these calls. Cassius Marsh was recently cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers and found himself on his third team in two years when the Bears signed him to their practice squad. He was called up on Monday night to help fill in for Khalil Mack’s absence.
After sacking Ben Roethlisberger on a critical fourth-quarter 3rd an 8, Marsh looked at the Steelers bench. That’s it. That’s all he did.
Referee Tony Corrente appeared to stick out his rear end in order for Marsh to bump him, and then threw the flag.
Did the ref throw his hip at Cassius Marsh after calling him for that taunting penalty??pic.twitter.com/zlSeTvgOuj
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 9, 2021
This is just embarrassing. Corrente should be fined and suspended for this.
I’m not going to get broken up about the Bears losing this game, because quite frankly, they didn’t deserve to win it. They were incredibly sloppy on both sides of the ball and gift wrapped at least a half-dozen opportunities for the Steelers to win.
This is about the newfound “emphasis on taunting.”
The NFL got this one wrong. Plain and simple. There isn’t a single fanbase that wants games decided like that, especially in prime time. NFL refs shouldn’t be given extra opportunities to make the games about themselves. We don’t pay to see flags being thrown. We pay to watch football.
This baloney rule takes emotion out of the game. It’s not like these guys are flipping off the camera or doing obscene things. They’re boys being boys. It’s that simple.
Think I’m overreacting?
ROLL THE TAPE
Here are some of the taunting penalties called on Sunday. This stuff is a disaster. It has to stop. pic.twitter.com/DFC1VtZHe6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 20, 2021
Darren Waller was called for taunting for SPIKING the ball.
IT WASN'T EVEN TOWARDS AN OPPONENT pic.twitter.com/dNDwoHoLLR
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 5, 2021
This was called taunting. We're still doing this. What a joke. pic.twitter.com/JDVHf5Kv0E
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 15, 2021
And much like every other subjective rule in the NFL good book, NFL referees aren’t competent enough to make these calls consistently:
Any player can taunt. If this was a DB doing this to a WR, that's taunting, right? Why is Trey Hendrickson any different? pic.twitter.com/WmaAuqqzZW
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) October 25, 2021
This stuff just makes me mad. Football games should be decided by football players. Imagine the outcry if a playoff game is decided like this.
Giants owner John Mara took credit for the NFL strictly enforcing the taunting rule. Call me crazy, but I don’t think that some 66-year-old dude who inherited the Giants from his daddy should be helping make these decisions.
Cassius Marsh might be getting cut tomorrow. Over this.
Be better NFL.
