The NFL’s New Taunting Penalty Sucks Major Ass

I get it’s the preseason. I understand the refs are told to throw flags like this more often than not so that players know what’s coming and readjustments can be made as the season goes on. But nothing about the NFL says they deserve the benefit of the doubt in this scenario. It’s the third quarter of the first preseason game for the Colts, and Benny LeMay is fired the fuck up. He’s scratching and clawing to make a roster, any roster. If the Colts don’t want him a big run like this where he’s carrying a dozen grown men on his back might be the run that catches the eye of another GM. Instead a big positive gain is a flag. Now he’s getting chewed out in the film room for taking yards off what should’ve been a big run.

The NFL always tries to have it both ways. They’ll put illegal hits and shit talking in their commercials and social promotional packages while doling out fines and flags for those same acts. It’s crazytown. I understand the player safety side of things with illegal hits and targeting, but talking shit is deeply engrained in the very fabric of competition - let alone football. If a guy wants to flex let him flex until his veins burst out of his arms. If a corner wants to wave his arms in a wide receiver’s face after a quarterback launches a ball into the stands let him be.