Will the NFL’s new anti-taunting stance hurt the LA Rams?

Look out, LA Rams. It seems that the NFL will once more take a harder stance towards the enforcement of the anti-taunting rules in the 2021 NFL season. So while that sounds great on paper, we know full well how that ramping up of enforcement seems to take place when the theory is put into practice on the football field.

At least, that is the latest report from Michael David Smith from ProFootballTalk of NBC Sports.  In his article, Smith cites comments from Rich McKay, the chairman of the NFL Competition Committee.

"“The NFL has become too lax in taunting. The face to face, the pointing of fingers, the standing over players on the ground, will be penalized.” Rich McKay said per ProFootballTalk Michael David Smith"

Will be penalized? Sure. But will they be penalized objectively and uniformly? Well, we’ll see.

Subjective enforcement

Rules seem to applied subjectively and to alter the outcomes of games sometimes. Perhaps it’s just that the quality of NFL officiating has taken a tumble with so many options of review and coach’s challenges. Perhaps the controversial officiating is all part of a marketing strategy to sell more tickets and views? But it detracts from the value of a game’s outcome.

So whenever the NFL talks about emphasizing certain aspects of the rule book to get better adherence, I’m left a little bewildered. After all, that same NFL rulebook should penalize offensive linemen who grab the facemask of Aaron Donald, put him in a chokehold, tackle him, or reach around and pull him down from behind by his shoulder pads. But the officials on the field always seem to miss those plays.

And yet, when it’s an offensive lineman called for holding when the Rams are blocking, they seldom seem to miss those infractions.

NFL = No Fun League

Maybe it’s that way for all teams. Maybe the enforcement of rules registers less when the opponent does it but becomes more of a factor when the penalty is against the team the fan or fans are rooting for. That may be the case. But the truth is that penalties in the NFL have become lax, and only seem to be enforced when the outcome of the game is in question.

So I can definitely see this type of penalty becoming problematic for wide receiver DeSean Jackson after making a big catch in a closely contested game. I can see the Rams defensive stopping the offense on 3rd down and long, but a flag flying for taunting after a Jalen Ramsey spontaneous celebration gives the opposing offense a new set of downs. And I can even see the Rams Aaron Donald getting penalized after a vicious quarterback sack.

It seems that celebrating touchdowns remains AOK. But for the rest of the game, it’s back to the NFL that we’ve come to know and love. The No Fun League is back.