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NFL senior vp of officiating administration Perry Fewell despatched a memo to common managers and head coaches of the 14 groups that made the playoffs relating to “the significance of sportsmanship” with the postseason set to start Saturday.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports activities obtained the memo and relayed it on Thursday.
“At this stage of competitors feelings will run excessive, however no quantity of emotion ought to give option to demeaning and offensive phrases, taunting, or different non-football acts,” Fewell wrote. “Nobody desires a penalty, or a participant ejection, to find out the end result of a recreation.”
Fines for on-field acts have sharply risen from 2023. Per Jones, the NFL issued 419 fines over final yr’s common season and playoffs. This season, the NFL issued 484 fines by the primary 17 regular-season weeks. The NFL issued 10 fines for taunting or violent gestures in Weeks 16 and 17 alone. Fines haven’t but been introduced for Week 18.
Per Spotrac, three gamers acquired Week 17 fines for obscene gestures. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce bought one for a celebration after he dunked the soccer over the crossbar in honor of ex-Chiefs tight finish Tony Gonzalez. 5 gamers acquired fines for unsportsmanlike conduct.
A minimum of 11 gamers have been ejected from video games this yr, per CBS Sports activities analysis cited by Jones. Of be aware, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Troy Pleasure, Dallas receiver Jalen Brooks and Philadelphia Eagles security Sydney Brown were all ejected after which fined throughout a skirmish in Philadelphia’s 41-7 win over Dallas on Dec. 29.
Maybe the spate of fines precipitated the message as extra eyes land on the NFL for the postseason. Fewell notably referred to as for sportsmanship “because the competitors escalates on essentially the most seen platform on this planet.”
“This memo is a reminder that the NFL customary of Sportsmanship will likely be strictly enforced through the playoffs,” Fewell wrote.
“Please help Sport Officers by encouraging sportsmanship, respect, and excessive requirements of excellence because the competitors escalates on essentially the most seen platform on this planet.
“Your energetic goodwill in emphasizing Sportsmanship and alerting your gamers and coaches to our place relating to non-football acts is drastically appreciated.”
This yr’s playoffs kick off Saturday when the Los Angeles Chargers go to the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. for an AFC Wild Card matchup.
