Handling Profanity?

[PSU213]

Originally posted by Schultj
I think that these are all personal calls, so it is good to see how others would call it.

#1-Probably let it pass. I might say something to him to let him now I'm watching him like "hustle back 87".

#2-Definite warning, boarderline flag. If he yells it so all can hear it so as to make a spectacle of himself, flag it. If he's way downfield and few hear, I would think that a strong warning would do.

#3-Definite flag here, no doubt on this one. The question for me would be ejection. I would lean towards yes, but I would confer with my crewmates first.

#4-Definite taunting, flag it.

#5-Tough call. I would say flag it because the comment only will serve to instigate further verbal exchanges between the teams.

Side note-The NF has once again made a point of emphasis that the rule book does not have an provisions for warnings on this, and that officials should be flagging this more often.

Like TXMike, I agree with all except 3 and 5.

For #3 I agree this a definite flag. In the Fed rule book for this section under penalties its says "any single flagrant foul is disqualification." Personally, I don't consider a player using a single racial slur to be "flagrant" per se, so I would not DQ unless there was more than just the one slur or he really got in his face with multiple slurs and profanities. I think this is an area where the chapter should adopt a single standard. A coach is probably not going to be too happy if one week his opponent is only penalized for using a racial slur, when the next, his man is DQed in a similar situation.

As for #5 I'm not going to flag it if the other team or other people in the area can't hear it. The only way I will likely flag it here is if it is clearly intended for the other team to hear it and/or they continue to use profanities after being warned. No matter who hears this in the this situation, I will warn them and talk to the coach.

[Edited by PSU213 on Aug 2nd, 2003 at 06:02 PM]