Defensive calls Illegal...?

[ajmc]

Take a deep breath Robert, there is a definition for the word disconcerting. The point is that it has been decided that it is the covering official's judgement ALONE as to what constitutes disconcerting. Leaving such decisions in the hands of game officials has worked exceedingly well for over 100 years.

The ambiguity built into those decisions is largely based on experience with the soundness, impartiality and rationality of judgments made by game officials over the decades. Since it clearly isn't broke, there's really no need to tinker trying to fix anything.

Whenever a team, or a player, chooses to make some sort of signal, sound or otherwise indication that could reasonably be judged to be a disconcerting factor, they would be well advised to abandon that device for something that doesn't offer multiple interpretations. What we do isn't rocket science nor should we try and over complicate it. When a team, or player, insists on doing or saying something that can be interpreted different ways, they assume the risk of possible misinterpretation.