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Multiple NFL stars call out John Mara for his comment on taunting

SimonGibbs_UserImageby:Simon Gibbs•08/17/21•

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Mike Lawrie/Getty Images.

New York Giants owner John Mara addressed the NFL’s newfound taunting rules in Tuesday’s press conference, expressing his agreement that acts of taunting should be reflected by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in NFL games, and that most other members of the NFL’s Competition Committee would agree.

“That’s something we discuss every year in the Competition Committee,” Mara, a member of the committee, said. “We get kind of sick and tired of the talking that does go on from time to time on the field. We tried to balance the sportsmanship with allowing the players to have fun and there’s always a fine line there, but none of us like to see that. It’s just a question of whether you can have rules that can be enforced and without taking the fun out of the game too, but nobody wants to see a player taunting another player. I know, I certainly don’t. I think the rest of the members of the Competition Committee feel the same way, too.”

Mara’s statement comes just days after the league’s first taunting flag was thrown on Indianapolis Colts’ running back Benny LeMay, leading to a number of strong reactions from players and media alike. LeMay, after fighting through contact and rushing 14 yards for a first down, showed mild emotion by exchanging a few words with a Carolina Panthers defender and flexing. The subsequent 15-yard penalty set the tone for the NFL season, and gave teams an idea of what types of reaction may lead to unsportsmanlike conduct calls. The NFL has threatened players — particularly, repeat offenders — with ejections, fines and suspensions.

The reaction to Mara’s comment was similar to that of the NFL’s first taunting penalty. Current players such as Tyrann Mathieu, Adrian Amos and Alvin Kamara, as well as retired players like Benjamin Watson took to Twitter to express their discontent.

A former LSU great and current Kansas City Chief safety, Mathieu tweeted, “So shut up and play? Got it.”

Retired tight end Watson echoed Mathieu’s sentiment.

Amos, a Packers safety, chimed in and posted, “I blame that darn rap music.”

Kamara, the Saints’ star running back, also publicly responded to Mara via Twitter.

Kamara followed up his first tweet with another, suggesting that he wanted to test the boundaries of the new rule. It remains unclear whether the NFL will change the criteria for penalties during the regular season.