The Trouble with Taunting

1/28/2022

by David Hagenbuch - professor of Marketing at Messiah University -
author of Honorable Influence - founder of Mindful Marketing

With Super Bowl LVI fast approaching, it’s a good time to analyze the officiating that’s caused so much controversy this football season. Surprisingly, the complaints haven’t been about referees throwing flags for excessive physical contact but for unnecessary psychological confrontation. The NFL’s crackdown on taunting has been widely unpopular, which could make anyone wonder if tightening the lid on trash taking was a bad business decision.

Imagine a football play in which a 320 lb. offensive lineman ‘pancakes’ a 310 lb. defensive tackle (i.e., blocks him to the turf). The defensive player wouldn’t expect anyone to ask him afterward, “How did that experience make you feel?”

Professional football is a very physical game, played by some of Earth’s biggest, strongest, and toughest people. They sign up for that kind of contact, and many even enjoy it. Hurting each other’s feelings is likely the least of their concerns. So why are NFL officials making it theirs?

This past summer, the league’s competition committee decided to try to tighten the reins on what it perceived to be a growing problem: players taunting their opponents with words and gestures, often aimed at rubbing in others’ failure, e.g., “I scored a touchdown, and you couldn’t stop me,” of course, expressed in a more ‘colorful’ and humiliating way.

Contrary to what some think, the NFL didn’t create a new taunting rule for the current season; rather, it asked officials to more strictly enforce the existing rule against “the use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.”

Most fans and analysts have blasted the stricter enforcement, especially when such calls have helped sway the outcome of close games. Given the arguably unnecessary restrictions on expression, some have snidely suggested that NFL should stand for “No Fun League.”

Lest we forget, football and all professional sports are entertainment. So, if players don’t mind taunting, and fans tolerate or even enjoy it, why not give them what they want—that’s Marketing 101—meet the target market’s wants and needs.

But, what if taunting has an impact beyond the professionals playing on fields like Lambeau and in stadiums such as Gillette?

Last February, I wrote an article, “Leaving a Legacy of Irreverence,” about an unlikely taunting incident that transpired at a teen football camp in Myrtle Beach, SC. One of the campers inexplicably began berating NFL quarterback and one-time league MVP Cam Newton, shouting at him, “You a free agent! You a free agent! You're about to be poor!”

Like most people, I said that the young man’s unprovoked antagonism was out of line. However, I also suggested that he very well could have learned his trash talking from some of the same media pundits who quickly became his most vocal critics, namely ESPN’s often acerbic analyst, Stephen A. Smith.

Amid the great derision that taunting penalties have drawn this football season, I wonder if, again, we’re failing to connect some potentially important cause-effect dots:
Does NFL players’ taunting inspire young impressionable athletes, who often idolize them, to imitate the insults?

Like many, I grew up loving sports and trying, with very little success, to pattern my play after that of professional athletes. Since my limited and dated experience doesn’t go very far in answering the question above, I reached out to someone who knows young football players better than almost anyone and can very likely project the impact that NFL players’ taunting has on today’s emerging athletes.

Jim Roth has been the head football coach at Southern Columbia High School, in Central Pennsylvania, for 38 years. That remarkable longevity alone suggests his unique familiarity with high school football; however, his years on the job are only the beginning.

Roth’s teams have won an incredible 12 state championships—twice that of any other program in the state. Furthermore, his 471 victories make him the winningest high school football coach in Pennsylvania and place him among the top ten coaches in the nation. During one recent stretch, Roth’s teams went an unimaginable four years without losing a game.

All this to say, there are few people anywhere who know high school football, its players, and what motivates them better than Roth. I recently had an opportunity to speak with him and ask his perspective on taunting in the NFL and how it might impact high school players.

Roth very clearly conveys his feelings about the league’s tough stance on taunting: “I think the rule is great.” He doesn’t appreciate a defensive lineman leaning over a quarterback he just sacked or believe it’s right for a receiver to wave his fingers at a safety he’s beaten for a touchdown.

Roth contends that professional players often take their celebrations too far: “The other team feels bad enough that they’ve gotten scored on. There’s no need to humiliate them more.”

When it comes to the possibility of his own players taunting opponents, Roth again does not equivocate, “We don’t condone taunting; we aren’t okay with our kids doing it.”

Even as Roth and his coaching staff strive to develop their players’ character and instill self-discipline, he realizes it’s become increasingly hard to do so for a variety of reasons, including that fewer grow up learning the same sense of accountability and responsibility they did years ago.

Individual upbringing, however, is not the only factor that influences behavior like taunting. Roth also believes that the actions of older, more accomplished athletes influence those of their younger counterparts: “There’s no question that when kids see certain things on TV in professional or college games, they imitate them.”

So, one of the most successful football coaches of all-time doesn’t appreciate players on any level taunting their opponents. He also confirms that younger players often emulate the behavior, good and bad, of older ones, which gives good reason for the NFL to sack taunting.

It’s ironic that despite society’s increased awareness of the importance of good mental health, including for accomplished athletes like Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, many people still see no problem with players in certain sports attempting to ‘get in the minds’ of their opponents. Yes, sports are games, but they also have real life physical and psychological consequences that don’t go away when players walk off the field or leave the court.

Battle-hardened NFL players may be able to endure taunting, and their fans might enjoy watching it, but many impressionable young football players and others see it and imitate it, to the detriment of themselves and others, all in a world that's wanting for respect and doesn't need more antagonism.

With television ratings at their highest since 2015, it doesn’t seem that the NFL has taken any financial hit for penalizing taunting; still, the significant pushback it’s received could cause the league to rethink its stricter stance. Such a reversion, however, would be a loss for many inside and outside football.

After nearly four decades of incredible success, winning games and developing young men, Roth maintains, “Winning without character is no better than losing.” That’s exactly what the NFL would be doing if it stops tackling taunting. However, as long as its referees throw flags for those demeaning deeds, the league wins with “Mindful Marketing.”

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23 Comments

vidmate link

1/30/2022 03:44:45 am

anks for s sdfv haring the article, and more importantly, your personal experience mindfully using our emotions as data about our inner state and know incvdsvg when it’s better to de-escalate by taking a time out are great tools. Appreciate you reading and sharing your story since I can certainly relate and I think others can to
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Noah A

1/30/2022 12:51:01 pm

Prior to reading this, I was firmly in the camp of letting NFL players taunt as much as they desire. To me, it’s entertaining. It builds tension in the game whenever a player makes a great play and lets the other team know. These taunts usually evoke some sort of response from the other team or player who was the target of the taunt. I believe at the NFL level, taunting makes the game more competitive and gives teams more motivation. If a player has the skill and consistency to back up their taunt, why not make a show of it? But, I was not considering the impact such behavior has on younger generations of football fans. If kids are emulating their favorite football stars’ taunts, this can have a detrimental impact on the game of football at a lower level. In the NFL, you should be good enough to compete with an opposing player, and if they taunt you, you should respond with better play. But for children, such taunting can turn people away from the sport before they have had the chance to develop mental fortitude and resilience. The NFL has a responsibility to model good behavior to the youth that idolize the league’s best players. I can now appreciate the referring decision, even if it makes the game less entertaining for me personally.

Ryan S

1/31/2022 11:51:09 am

Before reading this article, I felt strongly that the NFL should allow players to taunt to a reasonable extent. NFL players are being paid millions of dollars to play a sport for a living, they should be able to taunt and they should be able to handle it. I don't think it is the NFL's responsibility to control taunting actions with the intent of improving childhood behavior. Teaching children to behave properly on and off the field is the job of a parent or the football coach.

Alec

2/3/2022 08:15:31 pm

As others have mentioned, my prior stance was against the NFL’s new taunting rules. The taunting is a double-edged sword, as Tyreek Hill found out from Antoine Winfield. In a prior game, Tyreek burned Winfield for a long touchdown and gave him the peace sign as he ran away from him. This action must have sparked something within Winfield, as when they played in the Super Bowl that same year, he deflected a pass intended for Tyreek and mimicked the signaling that he received just a couple of weeks before. This kind of back-and-forth is hard to replicate without taunting.
However, your article made me realize that while it is more entertaining for me to watch players taunt, it does not uphold an ethical standard. Taunting is almost always disrespectful and knocks down the image of the player who taunts. There is a case to be made for both views, but I would have to agree that there must be some character responsibility held by the league towards the public actions of their players.

Joisah

2/5/2022 03:22:04 pm

With the new NFL taunting rules, it was hard for me to grip what the NFL would look like with the new rules and after seeing what happened this season my disgust grew more towards the new taunting rule change. Prior to the taunting rule change I had no problem with the taunting, because just like the article said, it made games more entertaining and also had a major impact on the ways the players played. After reading this article and the connections taunting plays had on the outside football world, it does make me reconsider my views on the new taunting rules. As a past high school student athlete there were times that I would watch pro athletes and mimicked how they acted, never taking into consideration the negative effects that some of them promote with their taunting in games. After looking at the impact pro athletes have on the youth today, I would say that the taunting rule change was a great rule to make. This would allow for the pro athletes to keep their cool and allow their game to do the talking, while at the same time promote healthy competition for the younger generation to learn from.

Charles H

2/6/2022 01:36:25 pm

I think this rule is very controversial, although I see its overall reasoning for being enforced more. I have seen many a highlight reel of trash talk and taunting and it does provoke a sense of hostility that young, impressionable minds could latch onto. I have also seen many actions, even within this current NFL season that have been very inappropriate and should be cause for ejection, or certainly that of a penalty. However, I think this issue is one that is entirely too dependent on the Refs that are officiating the game and their potential bias. They alone have the power to call a penalty which could arguably loss someone the game. I have seen a lot of calls where a personal fowl penalty was called where I wouldn't personally think it would be necessary. That gives the Refs a lot of power. I also think that in a close game where a team is making a comeback, or any close game for that matter, players get very hype and passionate about what's happening and may act or speak out of pure emotion and excitement and then get a penalty for it (I agree some actions are clearly violations and should be reprimanded, but also sometimes players just have a lot going through their minds and don't think, and I think that has to do with the condition of how they were raised as well as how they are allowed to act when they are off the field). The kind of pride and boasting that is allowed outside of the field will translate onto the field in times of passion or excitement. To penalize someone for being excited takes away from the love of sports. Clearly excitement is the least of the worries here as I feel as though this rule targets a different set of actions or words, but I still think it can be penalized if it is taken the wrong way or looks a different way to the officials. Overall, I think this is a good rule in order to protect the integrity of the players and their attitudes as well as that of the people watching. However, I do know that passion runs deep throughout sports and their fanbases, and it might be saying more about society as a whole than it does a 15-yard penalty or ejection from a game.

Luke Foster

2/6/2022 02:13:49 pm

I enjoyed this article a lot. I think this is something that is more controversial than we realize. Most of us NFL fans want to see an entertaining game, but a lot of people don't think about the effects of it. Of course it is awesome when your team makes a play and celebrates. Sometimes we enjoy a little taunting after a sack, but we always know the penalty is coming. I think the emphasis on the effects it can have on younger kids is a very strong point in supporting the new enforcement. When I was younger, I loved watching sports games, and I loved mimicking my favorite players. Because of this, I think I agree with the new enforcement of taunting, but I think celebrating should be allowed with freedom.

Ben Lefever

2/9/2022 02:07:34 pm

I completely agree. Taunting is bad celebrating is good. The question then becomes when does celebrating become taunting? I believe that celebrating has nothing to do with the other team but is interacting and celebrating with teammates and focused on the success of their team not the failure of the other team. When the celebration turns it's attention towards the other team and focuses on their failure then it become unacceptable. I sometimes feel that the NFL penalizes simply celebratation that are not pointed towards the other team which ruins the game but they do a good job of allowing no taunting.

Emma Hagg

2/6/2022 04:59:23 pm

I have many memories growing up of watching the Steelers play on Sundays with my dad and brother. Whenever there was a taunting call my dad would blame the player, usually calling him an idiot, and says that he should have known better and not done that. My brother on the other hand always enjoyed the taunting and found it entertaining. I tend to lean towards my dad's opinion that taunting can have negative effects on the game. I am all for teams celebrating throughout the game, but it should not be done in a way that puts the other team down. I do believe that this can affect youth who watch the NFL and look up to the players. Growing up in sports we are always told to have respect for the refs and other team on the field. If kids are seeing the players they admire doing it, they may try to do the same. Overall I believe that it was a good idea to enforce the taunting rules because there are ways the team can celebrate that create a positive influence on youth, instead of setting a bad example.

Camerin Deville link

2/6/2022 07:07:15 pm

I believe that taunting should be limited because some types of taunting could be more aggressive or offensive than other forms of taunting.For example in the NFL most players do touchdown dances which is totally fine to me because they are happy and that's a good way to express feelings in the heat of the moment. Celebrations should be done in a cordial way and not in a offensive way such as doing a touchdown dance or giving your teammates a high five after a good play.

Joe Embleton

2/9/2022 02:16:56 pm

I really enjoyed reading this article and I do agree with you Cam that there are certain ways of celebrations that should be allowed, while there are other ways that are not. I think there is a fine line between Taunting and Celebrating and I believe with the rules that the NFL are putting into place are to try and distinguish this fine line. I personally enjoy watching players dance or celebrate after making a big play. I think it becomes taunting when the celebration comes from disrespect or at another players expense. In putting these types of rules into place, will allow the NFL players to not only set a role for young athletes but for all people watching to be cognizant how their actions affect others.

Joe Cornett

2/6/2022 08:41:11 pm

Before the reading the article I had no problem with taunting, and I'm not sure how I feel anymore. I definitely have a problem with how the NFL have handled the rule. By just telling the referees to more strictly enforce the rule, there is more detriment that value. This allows the referees to handle the situation however they see fit, and by using bias rather than sticking to a set of rules could affect games in a way that is unfair. And in the bigger picture a wide receiver using his hand to gesture at his opponent as he scores a touchdown should not affect the game in anyway. Regardless of the hand gesture the wide receiver would have scored. This goes back to the description of the rule. Because there isn't a strictly set rule that is specific, not only the referee, but also the receiver have to follow the rule how they see fit and they will likely not see eye to eye on this issue, ruining the integrity of both the rule and the game. For reasons such as this I am starting to like football less, and I think many other fans can say the same. With increased stoppages in the game and penalties that take momentum and emotion out of the game, it is impossible to watch without redzone where there are no commercials. However, the taunting leads to a different issue with society. I don't think that it is ideal that kids are learning these mannerisms, but I think the problem is with consistency. If it's not okay for kids then it shouldn't be in the NFL, and vice versa, if the NFL allows it then why can't kids do it. I know that in most scenarios I wouldn't taunt, but I have no problem with it.

Donte Hibbert

2/6/2022 11:11:10 pm

In my personal opinion I think taunting should be allowed in the NFL and players should just have the mental fortitude to deal with it. I have been an athlete for about a little over a decade and as you can imagine I have experienced trash talk or even been called inappropriate words and I always managed to conduct myself in a way that represented who was as a person and christian, now with that being said it is my belief that if I am capable of doing that then these grown men who are professionals and may have families of their own that they have to be an example and are paid millions of dollars to play a game essentially should be able to keep a level head as well. So yes, trash talk should be allowed its good for business and it's a part of competing in a sport there are always gonna be trash talkers, players just need to make the decision to not stoop to their level and let their actions do the talking if they get offended by what someone says.

Sarah Lippin

2/6/2022 11:29:57 pm

Being an athlete, I have first hand seen a lot of taunting, and this article has almost swayed me to believe that it should not be allowed, but I'm going to have to stick with my original beliefs and say that it should be allowed. The taunting has been what has helped some teams that I've been on to build off the anger the other team was providing and capitalize on it. Taunting, I feel personally, is what builds character for athletes. Sports, overall, are great learning experiences for life, and the life lesson that taunting brings is that not everyone in the world is going to be nice or "on your side". As an athlete, I feel like it builds resilliance to overcome any obstacle. I also feel that by making the rule to ban taunting then makes people feel like there is always going to be someone helping you fight off the mean people in the world, and in reality it just does not work that way.

Lucas Plumey

2/7/2022 10:32:26 am

I myself am and athlete, so I have received by fair share of taunting and have dished out some of my own. As a volleyball player, there is always taunting going on across the net. The thing with volleyball is that when someone taunts you, there is more often than not an immediate opportunity to sort of prove yourself by making a big play; whether that be getting a bounce kill or a service ace. I feel that taunting places a certain pressure on athletes to do better in the game that they are in. The athlete can respond one of two ways to that pressure. They can either bounce back and prove their "taunters" wrong or they can crack under the pressure and continue to do worse and worse. As for the NFL, I think that the restriction and enforcement on taunting should be loosened. It creates entertainment for the players and does not emotionally damage them in any way.

mckenzie

2/7/2022 01:05:13 pm

I agree that there are troubles with taunting. I think that taunting in sports causes unsportsmanship like play. I think the NFL’s strict rule against taunting is a good thing because it promotes sportsmanship. There is no need to knock players down when they are already down, there's no need to taunt a player and call them names when you are already beating them a hundred to zero. I think it takes the fun out of the game for the players. I understand when it's a close game and you want to get inside your competitors head, but half the time it doesn't get to them and doesn't do anything to benefit you anyways and I think that you should want to beat your competitor based on your own skill and not on breaking them down. I think good sportsmanship is an important part of the game and this rule helps to enforce/promote this good behavior that promotes good character. And having this rule doesn’t hurt anyone, it just makes the game better and builds good character for athletes and fans.

Deantae A Moultrie

2/7/2022 01:18:25 pm

Taunting is definitely not something that should be allowed in any kind of sport. Even though players are against each other, I think the idea of still being kind to those you're playing the same kind of game with is imperative. Especially games like football where the players have a lot of pride, and pride could quickly turn to anger when provoked. Some can argue that it is a part of the game, and it creates a tough interior. However, I think there are so many other trials elite athletes have to endure mentally that could do just this. To really see who the best team is, I think it is best to leave it to the physical attributes and not any mental ones. I think for entertainment, trash talking amongst fans is safer than amongst players.

Matthew Gordner

2/7/2022 08:31:54 pm

I agree that the NFL is doing a good job in limiting taunting within the sport. Playing soccer for most of my life, I have been on both the victorious side of sports and (more often) the losing side. When you are on the side that just lost, or allowed the opposition to score, there are immediately psychological effects. Therefore, the opposing team should not be allowed to rub salt in the wound after experiencing success. Furthermore, I have seen emulation of athletes. Whether it is the way athletes dress, the way they play, or the way they celebrate, young athletes model their behaviors after these players. Therefore, they should be good role models understanding that they are shaping the next generation through their actions.

Matt Simmons

2/8/2022 02:06:12 pm

As a big NFL fan, I have heard both sides to this issue. I think the big issue is what is considered a taunting penalty. The calls made this season have been very inconsistent. Cassius Marsh made a big tackle then stared at the opposing team's sideline. He was called for a penalty, which cost them the game. Tom Brady, on the other hand, cursed out the Saint's sideline after a loss and wasn't called for it. Tyreek Hill threw up his signature peace sign long before he reached the end zone against the Bills in the 4th quarter in the AFC Divisional game. He wasn't called either. I don't have issues with taunting calls, as long as the calls are consistent and don't affect games differently.

Sara F

2/8/2022 11:34:49 pm

I kept going back and forth on my opinion as I was reading this article. At first, I thought that a little bit of taunting is part of the competition. However, the players are still people with emotions. Like it is mentioned in the article, the opposite teams knows that they didn't get the touchdown points; the other team doesn't need to announce that again. I played many sports growing up, and I really had to get into the competitive mindset to be able to play a strong game. If I half heartedly got into the game, then it showed by my half hearted performance. In softball, when I got someone out, I got excited in my mind that I prevented a possible point, but I never teased them about it. It's important to remember that they are people with emotions that will remember the words that are spoken to them.

Bobby O

2/9/2022 06:38:35 pm

I agree that taunting is an unhealthy aspect of sports that causes unnecessary tensions to rise between competitors. However, there is a definite distinction between taunting and celebrating. I believe that celebrations can be a very fun aspect of sports, especially in soccer where depending on the region and league, celebrations can be quite comical and in good taste. In these cases though, the other team knows it is a celebratory act and not meant to demean them in any way. Taunting is completely unnecessary and can completely change the whole atmosphere of athletic competition. Attacking or trying the belittle competitors while in the middle of a game in any sport takes the focus of trying to compete at a high level for personal achievement or entertainment, and can easily ruin it by causing players to pursue personal frustrations with other players or the entire team they are competing against.

Travis F

2/10/2022 12:35:58 am

Personally, I do not think taunting is a bad thing. I think the over use of taunting can lead to bad behavior. When you are in a sports game your adrenaline is pumping and when you finally make that shot or score that touchdown I believe it is perfectly reasonable to perform a celebration or even taunt the other team a little. Playing sports my whole life I have been on both the winning side and the losing side of a game and during the game it can get very competitive between the two teams but I think the important thing is that what happens on the field or court doesn't carry off. With this I do think it is important that the NFL keeps a certain level of integrity to players while they are celebrating or taunting. I do not think that kids are negatively affected by seeing players taunt because I think as long as the parents instill good values in them and teach them where the line is for what is too far in taunting or celebrating then sporting events will run smoothly.

Matthew McDonald

2/10/2022 01:38:49 am

I really enjoyed this article especially from a background of sports. From playing sports to watching sports I have been able to see taunting numerous times. I believe that taunting has become a huge piece of sports and we have seen much more of it in recent years. I feel as though the idea of taunting has been derived from celebrating in sports and have taken it over the top a little bit. I am all for the competitiveness of sports and honestly enjoy that the most, but taunting adds in a completely different level. For some people, their whole game is to taunt the other team or some of the guys to get them off their own game and into their heads. Which, to each their own, but that is personally not the way that I choose to play sports. I feel when you are too focused on your opponent and trying to one up them, you lose touch with the game and hurt your team. In regards to the NFL, I have seen many changes surrounding this rule and feel like taunting has been combatted, but it becomes inconsistent. Although the NFL is televised, I do feel that taunting is not picked up through just the NFL. I feel one pf the jobs of parents of athletes is to not only teach them values to grow up, but also values in sports. The NFL is not the only factor on what children growing up nowadays will develop tendencies to taunt, it is also the values of the children and their parents that will affect them.

The Trouble with Taunting

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