NFL Officials to be armed with 15 yard penalty for racial slurs…uh oh (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

In most wotkplaces in America, someone who dropped this language would be visiting HR and cleaning out his desk before the end of the day. I think the Martin/Incognito incident made the NFL realize that it is at very high risk of an expensive workplace discrimination lawsuit any time. Expect more new rules about players and coaches - who ultimately are employees protected by anti-discrimination laws - conducting themselves as "professionals.". This is CYA.

I am usually in favor of letting boys be boys. But when you think about it from an employment perspective, why wouldn't someone who "works" in football not have the same rules as any other workplace?

Is the NFL most places? Is there a difference between vacationing on a Caribbean Island vs going to climb Mt Everest? Should you pack the same kind of clothes for both places? Will you travel in the same way to get to both places? Tying to compare what happens in the everyday work place to what happens in the NFL is about as silly an argument as I can think of.

I'm sorry everyone but we're just not that special.

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Re-racial stuff- What happens to the guy that said a slur three times during the game, as he's leaving the game? People beat him up? Wreck his car? Toilet paper his house? How is society going to react to recognizing which players use racial slurs often?

re-cursing-

If someone tears his knee and blurts out curses, I don't care. It reminds me of my father hitting his thumb with a hammer growing up....I heard things I never heard otherwise. To me, there's an understood mulligan as far as cursing when pain is involved.

I coached a t-ball team and let me tell you no one hits home runs over the fence. Like never, doesn't happen blah blah blah. This kid did and his mom yelled holy (poop) and I couldn't believe how angry people got. It was holy (poop), hand over mouth, sorry sorry. Yet people wanted him off the team, out of the league, her banned from games etc. I was shocked how people reacted. I am totally out of touch.

We had a kid "jam" his finger when the ball hit it dead on. He said F and the ump threw him out of the game.

My thoughts were I guarantee his mom is all over him for that, why does the ump need to be? But the other parents were like good, sit him down.

Because they were jealous of her son. That's where a lot of this over policing starts, folks who are jealous of other folks success or god given abilities.

 

[renesauz]

I have absolutely no problem with this

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Imagine your WR catches a ball for 35 yards, hard tackle and then the N word comes out somehow and Whitey Referee throws a flag and nullifies the play somehow, perhaps it will be a dead ball foul but if it takes away FF points from the FF owners, suddenly we'll have nerds with pitchforks crying about the unfairness of it all.

 

[squistion]

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

As Harry Carson noted in the link I provided on the first page, it is already being policed on the field.

Retired Giants star Harry Carson, who is now the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told the Daily News that a rule allowing officials to penalize players for using the N-word is “already in place.” The word is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, Carson said.

 

[KellysHeroes]

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

As Harry Carson noted in the link I provided on the first page, it is already being policed on the field.

Retired Giants star Harry Carson, who is now the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told the Daily News that a rule allowing officials to penalize players for using the N-word is “already in place.” The word is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, Carson said.

Has any current players spoken up yet?

 

[squistion]

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

As Harry Carson noted in the link I provided on the first page, it is already being policed on the field.

Retired Giants star Harry Carson, who is now the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told the Daily News that a rule allowing officials to penalize players for using the N-word is “already in place.” The word is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, Carson said.

Has any current players spoken up yet?

Not that I am aware of, but Carson wasn't just some random ex-player ask to quote on this - he is a member of the organization that is calling for the new rule. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-expected-adopt-15-yard-penalty-n-word-article-1.1698783

 

[KellysHeroes]

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

As Harry Carson noted in the link I provided on the first page, it is already being policed on the field.

Retired Giants star Harry Carson, who is now the executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told the Daily News that a rule allowing officials to penalize players for using the N-word is “already in place.” The word is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, Carson said.

Has any current players spoken up yet?

Not that I am aware of, but Carson wasn't just some random ex-player ask to quote on this - he is a member of the organization that is calling for the change. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-expected-adopt-15-yard-penalty-n-word-article-1.1698783

yeah, I live in the area, I've heard Carson on the radio plenty. And I'm sure that some of the older afro-american players are pulling for it but I think things are a little different now. Thats why i was wondering if the current players have spoken up. If they want it or don't care then I don't care.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

So should I side with MOP or Harry Carson?

 

[CalBear]

Imagine your WR catches a ball for 35 yards, hard tackle and then the N word comes out somehow and Whitey Referee throws a flag and nullifies the play somehow, perhaps it will be a dead ball foul but if it takes away FF points from the FF owners, suddenly we'll have nerds with pitchforks crying about the unfairness of it all.

No, we'll have people saying "man, that guy's a total idiot for costing his team that yardage." Which actually happens all the time now with taunting and other theatrics.

 

[KellysHeroes]

so are songs played in the stadiums that feature said word going to be censored or blacklisted?

 

[fatness]

George Preston Marshall is firmly against this.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Some Cliffs:

Some people say if players can't say the N word, then fans won't enjoy the game, the NFL should close, and the American "Empire" will come to an end.

 

[Grateful Parrot]

In most wotkplaces in America, someone who dropped this language would be visiting HR and cleaning out his desk before the end of the day. I think the Martin/Incognito incident made the NFL realize that it is at very high risk of an expensive workplace discrimination lawsuit any time. Expect more new rules about players and coaches - who ultimately are employees protected by anti-discrimination laws - conducting themselves as "professionals.". This is CYA.

I am usually in favor of letting boys be boys. But when you think about it from an employment perspective, why wouldn't someone who "works" in football not have the same rules as any other workplace?

Is the NFL most places? Is there a difference between vacationing on a Caribbean Island vs going to climb Mt Everest? Should you pack the same kind of clothes for both places? Will you travel in the same way to get to both places? Tying to compare what happens in the everyday work place to what happens in the NFL is about as silly an argument as I can think of.

I'm sorry everyone but we're just not that special.

I'm also not lining up and getting physical with my competition either. Its been long accepted that what is generally said and done on the field is left on the field. The field is where the players goto to work, its not the fans to be involved in. This is a big example of a non-football guy commishing the league.

Agree 100% Kelly and I never played beyond high school but it seems obvious some folks in here never played beyond school yard or street football in their neighborhood.

The whole idea of giving the refs something else they need to police on the field, just ridiculous and the belly aching come Sept/Oct when a game is decided because a player makes a slur the ref thinks he overhears, very subjective and really just springs another leak in the boat.

I'll go one step further. After playing D1 ball, I joined the service. All the lawsuits I could have won against superiors. LOL. This whole things a joke.

 

[dickey moe]

What gets more calls -- "Cracker," "######," or "random Samoan epithet unknown to most people?"

 

[Anarchy99]

I'm not sure why people are potentially bent out of shape over this. Refs have always had the ability to flag people for shouting out inappropriate things or taunting. This is nothing more than a CYA P.R. move by the league to mitigate any backlash over the Incognito stuff. It makes them look like they are trying to change and be more sensitive in the eyes of the fans. Not sure we will actually ever see this called.

 

[fatness]

I'm not sure why people are potentially bent out of shape over this.

Hardly anyone is upset about this. The few who are upset are just loud and over-the-top about it and complain more frequently than most.

 

[Grateful Parrot]

5 bucks says this penalty will only be called on white guys.

 

[B-Deep]

it is not just incognito, wasn't there a couple of other alleged incidents of this word being used during play?

maybe that involved a ref...

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I'm not sure why people are potentially bent out of shape over this. Refs have always had the ability to flag people for shouting out inappropriate things or taunting. This is nothing more than a CYA P.R. move by the league to mitigate any backlash over the Incognito stuff. It makes them look like they are trying to change and be more sensitive in the eyes of the fans. Not sure we will actually ever see this called.

100% Yep. Par for the course with this Commissioner too.

 

[QuizGuy66]

I don't get how it's not already covered under unsportsmanlike conduct to be honest.

-QG

 

[GregR]

Imagine your WR catches a ball for 35 yards, hard tackle and then the N word comes out somehow and Whitey Referee throws a flag and nullifies the play somehow, perhaps it will be a dead ball foul but if it takes away FF points from the FF owners, suddenly we'll have nerds with pitchforks crying about the unfairness of it all.

It's difficult to visualize what such a thread might look like.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Having said what I just said, if the official on the field announces the penalty to be due to use of racial slurs it would be one heck of a deterrent you'd have to think.

-QG

 

[Koya]

The New York Giants are calling for an audio review claiming that #57 shouted "Ninja please!"

 

[tdoss]

I find it funny to hear the responses of the talking heads on this subject...especially African Americans...

People were crawling all over themselves to jump on Incognito for using the word in a text...endlessly prattling on about how this kind of racial insensitivity needs to be erased.

You hear constantly how use of the word is not to be accepted...

Even here...context does not matter...we just autofilter it...while endless amounts of slurs escape the autofilter...they just "didn't make the cut" regardless of context.

But now, you have these same talking heads saying, "No way...you can't legislate that...you can't penalize that."

And go on about how it's white owners trying to tell mostly black players that they can't use the word...and that context should come into play and be considered.

Is there no end to the damn hypocrisy? Either the word is bad or it's not...if it's not due to context...then context needs to be considered when someone white says it...

And this is obviously just a counter to the Incognito situation. Which I'm fine with...if he can't say it or even text it...then no one should be able to...let's start growing the list of racial epithets.

Sidenote - It's been about a decade now with the n-word being elevated to autofilter status on this board...have any other ethnicities received that same protected status since I brought this argument to the board over ten years ago? Or is there still only one protected class?

 

[msudaisy26]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

 

[tdoss]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

 

[datonn]

So every time someone refers to the name [Washington] 'Redskins' on the field, officials are gonna throw a flag?!

 

[Brewtown]

Whatever happened to the saying "Sticks and Stone may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"?

 

[fatness]

Lots of support for unsportsmanlike conduct here.

 

[fatness]

This makes sense. The NFL really doesn't need another rule to cover what's already covered by a rule.

Although there’s been talk of the NFL adding a rule against racial slurs this offseason, a new rule specifically banning racial slurs seems unlikely to be passed. Instead, the league will probably make racial slurs a point of emphasis, and remind officials that the NFL already has a rule against abusive language: “Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials ore representatives of the league” is a personal foul penalty in the NFL rule book.

Former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira said on FOX Football Daily that the league will probably instruct officials to monitor players’ use of language closely and interpret the rule against abusive or insulting language strictly. “I don’t think we’ll see a rule change coming specifically but I do think we’ll see a point of emphasis coming from this that the officials, it will be put upon them to flag any racial slur, anything they hear that’s a racial slur, period, will draw a 15-yard penalty,” Pereira said.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/25/nfl-likely-to-make-racial-slurs-a-point-of-emphasis/

 

[Grateful Parrot]

So every time someone refers to the name [Washington] 'Redskins' on the field, officials are gonna throw a flag?!

Nah. Because we know Redskins don't play football.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

This will be called as much as the RB lowering their head rule was last year...and in 2 years, people will forget this rule exists

 

[msudaisy26]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

If there's a goal line situation and a pile-up it's going to get really tricky

 

[Grateful Parrot]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

If there's a goal line situation and a pile-up it's going to get really tricky

I thought this kind of funny now that there's gay players in the NFL

 

[msudaisy26]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

If there's a goal line situation and a pile-up it's going to get really tricky

That is no different then what is happening with the penalty. How will they penalize the team that said it if the refs can't tell either. You have to let that one side and the ref gives a warning. The ref says I heard someone say it but I am not sure who, better keep it clean because next time you all might not be so lucky.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

If there's a goal line situation and a pile-up it's going to get really tricky

That is no different then what is happening with the penalty. How will they penalize the team that said it if the refs can't tell either. You have to let that one side and the ref gives a warning. The ref says I heard someone say it but I am not sure who, better keep it clean because next time you all might not be so lucky.

Agreed.

Like I said above--This will be called as much as the RB lowering their head rule was last year...and in 2 years, people will forget this rule exists

 

[msudaisy26]

I am not sure if someone else said this and if they did I am apologize for stealing your idea, but why doesn't the NFL just fine the players an obscene amount if they use any of these terms. Like 100k for first offense, 250k for the second, and 500k for a 3rd offense and anything after that fine them a game check. This way you don't affect game results. Hitting the pocket book would get the message across in a year or so I would say.

It'd probably open them up to all kinds of countersuits...you'd need sound bites to prove it...

They already put microphones on refs and some players I am sure it wouldn't be hard to figure a way to prove who it is. I have seen basketball games where the microphones have caught a guy swearing and you can tell who it is.

If there's a goal line situation and a pile-up it's going to get really tricky

That is no different then what is happening with the penalty. How will they penalize the team that said it if the refs can't tell either. You have to let that one side and the ref gives a warning. The ref says I heard someone say it but I am not sure who, better keep it clean because next time you all might not be so lucky.

Agreed.

Like I said above--This will be called as much as the RB lowering their head rule was last year...and in 2 years, people will forget this rule exists

You are right. It will become a big deal if a microphone catches a slur and it goes on television on accident. Then you will see something happen.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Some Cliffs:

Some people say if players can't say the N word, then fans won't enjoy the game, the NFL should close, and the American "Empire" will come to an end.

The classic "slippery slope".

 

[CalBear]

This makes sense. The NFL really doesn't need another rule to cover what's already covered by a rule.

Although there’s been talk of the NFL adding a rule against racial slurs this offseason, a new rule specifically banning racial slurs seems unlikely to be passed. Instead, the league will probably make racial slurs a point of emphasis, and remind officials that the NFL already has a rule against abusive language: “Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials ore representatives of the league” is a personal foul penalty in the NFL rule book.

What, you're telling me the league had already been ruined?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

This makes sense. The NFL really doesn't need another rule to cover what's already covered by a rule.

Although there’s been talk of the NFL adding a rule against racial slurs this offseason, a new rule specifically banning racial slurs seems unlikely to be passed. Instead, the league will probably make racial slurs a point of emphasis, and remind officials that the NFL already has a rule against abusive language: “Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials ore representatives of the league” is a personal foul penalty in the NFL rule book.

What, you're telling me the league had already been ruined?

Next up, the USA.

 

[Neofight]

This makes sense. The NFL really doesn't need another rule to cover what's already covered by a rule.

Although theres been talk of the NFL adding a rule against racial slurs this offseason, a new rule specifically banning racial slurs seems unlikely to be passed. Instead, the league will probably make racial slurs a point of emphasis, and remind officials that the NFL already has a rule against abusive language: Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials ore representatives of the league is a personal foul penalty in the NFL rule book.

What, you're telling me the league had already been ruined?

Next up, the USA.

One is a symptom of the other, no, fatalistic humor aside.