The NFL seems to have a new point of emphasis with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and fans are not happy about it.
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton made a nice catch for a first down early in the second half of his team’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., on Sunday. As countless other players have done before him, Slayton popped up and pointed his arm down the field to signal “first down.”
https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1843050062240194567
Slayton was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. An official likely felt that the receiver looked like he was pointing a gun and deemed that he made a violent gesture, though that seems like a huge stretch.
Earlier in the day, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a very similar celebration. Like Slayton, Downs made a gesture that we have seen countless times after a player picks up a first down, but it cost the Colts 15 yards.
https://twitter.com/kicks/status/1842975413502664956
The officiating crew called that an “illegal demonstration” from Downs.
Obviously, the NFL has asked officials to crack down on celebrations that could be interpreted as gun gestures. The problem is that most people probably would never have viewed them that way without the flags being thrown. Fans are being reminded that the “No Fun League” is still very much alive and well.
