Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is speaking out against an NFL penalty that he believes is hurting the game. The normally quiet quarterback, who rarely speaks out during the offseason, joined Travis and Jason Kelce’s Podcast “New Heights” and spoke out about a penalty he’d like to see eliminated from the NFL.
Interestingly enough, the penalty in question is taunting, a 15-yard penalty that often happens after a quarterback takes a big sack, is intercepted, or has a strip sack. In fact, quarterbacks have not been known to pick up taunting penalties, with few exceptions.
Joe Burrow Says NFL Needs to Grow Up
While on the podcast with the Kelce brothers, Joe Burrow explained why he believes the 15-yard penalty should be eliminated. He said the following:
“We’re all grown adults that work really hard at what we do. And sometimes we’d like to show it. I’m not gonna get my feelings hurt if somebody sacks me and taunts me like you made a play. I get it. Like, good for you.”
-Joe Burrow
It’s tough to analyze how serious Burrow may have been in this conversation, although it is very likely that in the next press conference or next more formal setting that Burrow is in, he will be asking the question again in which it will be interesting to see what his response is,
The NFL Should At Least Listen to Burrow’s Idea
We live in a society where people are very sensitive and can overreact easily. Despite this, a bit of taunting or excessive celebration wouldn’t be the end of the world for the NFL and may actually be good for the game because of what it would cause between players and teams.
Imagine watching a receiver and corner go out at all game, taunting each other every time the other one makes a play, and how this could eventually lead to rivalry notches between the two players on two teams. The NFL desperately needs more rivalries and contention between teams, largely because, in recent years, there have been so many trades and roster turnover that there isn’t a lot of rivalry anymore in the league.
Of course, there will have to be some limit. The NFL doesn’t want fights or taunting to become dangerous for any players, so perhaps there is a compromise. Maybe instead of a 15-yard penalty, the answer is to move to a 5-yard penalty for a first offense and then a 15-yard penalty for a second. This could be similar to how soccer usually utilizes a yellow card before giving a red card.
Having a 5-yard penalty, while still negative for the team, to send a message or provide a spark to the team is well worth the penalty. Again, think of MLB coaches who knowingly get thrown out of games to argue with an umpire but as a result, spark the team to go on a run.
Conclusion
It is a bit late in the cycle for new rules or changes to the game for 2024; however, if the NFL starts to see more fans and players interested in allowing taunting, it would be in their best interest to at least explore the option. A few years ago, the NFL loosened the rules on touchdown celebrations, allowing teams and players to celebrate in the end zone or after a huge play without penalty.