Taunting in the NFL
 

I just saw DeSean Jackson catch a 50 yard pass, then taunt the other team after he ran out of bounds. There was also a live ball foul on the defense for illegal hands. I don't know NFL rules too well, but I do think they don't allow live ball/dead ball enforcements. Therefore, the fouls offset and the play had to go over.

Just wondering, could the eagles have declined the defensive foul, tear the 50 yard gain then have the 15 for taunting enforced and still end up with 35 yards?

No. The NFL rulebook is online and I looked it up.

Amazingly enough, the Eagles are penalized *because* the defense fouled on the play. Absent that foul, it would be enforced as a dead ball foul and the Eagles would've gained 35 yards. Because the defense fouled, it's considered a double foul and the down must be replayed. No option.

Of all the inconsistencies in the rules applications in the NFL (for example, OPI), taunting is, to me, the most inconsistent.

No, live ball and dead ball foul combine to create a double foul situation under NFL rules. The only time this isn't true is if the offensive foul is a delay of game penalty for spiking the ball after a play. In that case, they could decline the penalty against the defense, and have the dead ball delay of game penalty enforced.

Interestingly enough, if the Giants would have just committed a penalty that was only five yards instead of the illegal use of hands (5+auto first down), then this would be a 15 v. 5 situation and the USC would be enforced from the previous spot (if there's a double foul with no change of possesion where one is a 15 yard penalty and the other is a five yard penalty, then the 5 is disregarded and the 15 yard penalty is enforced from the previous spot...even if there's a score).

This is a terrible, terrible rule, BTW. One place where the NFHS has it completely right.

Which one? The live+dead ball=double foul or 15 v. 5?

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

The Canadian Ruling has the right approach. Taunting is applied after all other fouls are considered. Our approach to illegal hands is 15 yards, but only if they're "to the face". The 10 yards for the taunt is then taken away, giving a net of 5 yards in A's favour, plus an AFD.

The live ball / dead ball = double foul. Rewards the defense for fouling.

I guess you could just say that the offense should not have fouled on the play.

And with their (offensive) penalty being a dead penalty, it means the foul was a USC or personal foul which are easy enough to avoid. The only other dead ball penalty an offensive team would realistically be called for is the dead ball delay for spiking the ball, and in that case they could decline the defensive penalty.