Latest news with #WaltAnderson
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NFL referees told to enforce strict rule that could get LOTS of players in trouble next season
The NFL has vowed to punish certain celebrations in an attempt to crack down on poor sportsmanship next season. The league has said it will crack down on both violent and sexually suggestive gestures this season after a number of players continued to perform them last year. 'Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating or either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133 per cent so that is a point of emphasis,' NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said Thursday. 'The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It's just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. 'There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.' Patrick Mahomes was fined $14,000 back in November after mimicking guns with his hands during the Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Buffalo Bills. Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first down with finger guns against the Broncos Teammate Travis Kelce, who was also fined $14,000 by the NFL for his slam-dunk touchdown celebration through the uprights on Christmas Day, slammed the NFL's rules last season. When New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first down with finger guns against the Denver Broncos, Kelce said on New Heights: 'I know we don't want this to be like, "Oh, NFL players shooting guns". 'I get that. But this is so subtle. Unless you're, like, doing it at a defender, it shouldn't be a flag. If you want to fine the guy after the game for doing it, whatever, that's up to the NFL for wanting to protect their league.' The Chiefs tight end called it 'absolutely ridiculous' that a 'guy is on the ground shooting, pointing fingers for getting a first down saying "We're going that way or whatever he might be doing," and received a penalty. 'I just think it's too much, man. It's too much and it's affecting the game in the wrong way,' Travis added. 'I get the guy's got to play by the rules and stuff like that. I don't want to get the NFL on my ass for saying something. But I just think this is too far.' 'It's my second amendment,' Travis jokingly exclaimed. 'I have the right to bear arms.' Fellow receivees Drake London and Xavier Worthy were also penalized for referencing firearms in celebrations during the season. In the Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt was slapped with a $5,690 fine for celebrating a sack on Patrick Mahomes by gesturing a bow and arrow pointed skyward. Travis Kelce slammed the NFL for penalizing the Jets over a player's hand-gun celebration In April, the NFL expanded prohibited acts to include banning the 'nose wipe' gesture that league executive Troy Vincent said is affiliated with gangs. The unsportsmanlike conduct rule now states: 'any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the "nose wipe" gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive. 'There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent,' Vincent said in a video that's sent to teams. 'There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.'
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
The NFL is Cracking Down on Violent and Sexually Suggestive Gestures
Print Close Published August 21, 2025 The NFL wants players to have fun within the rules. That's why the league will be emphasizing sportsmanship and cracking down on violent and sexually suggestive gestures this season. "Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating or either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133% so that is a point of emphasis," NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said Thursday. "The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It's just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas." In April, the NFL expanded prohibited acts to include banning the "nose wipe" gesture that league executive Troy Vincent said is affiliated with gangs. The unsportsmanlike conduct rule now states: "any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the 'nose wipe' gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive. "There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent," Vincent said in a video that's sent to teams. "There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! Print Close URL
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The NFL is ready to penalize more celebrations than ever
The NFL says it's prepared to crack down on the ongoing terror of *checks notes* players celebrating during games. Per Pro Football Talk, NFL rules analyst and former official Walt Anderson shared on a Thursday conference call that the league will be taking a special focus on "sportsmanship" during the 2025 season. "Anderson specified violent gestures and sexual gestures as types of activities that will be flagged by the officials in addition to subjecting players to fines," PFT's Michael David Smith reported about the call. NFL executive Troy Vincent Sr. shared more clarification in a video about exactly what the NFL is looking for in its focus on player acts deemed unsportsmanlike. "There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent," Vincent said in the video. "There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football." The NFL has been trying to zap any and all personality out of the game for ages, even to the point of penalizing players for dunking the football over the goal post after a touchdown. This added focus should push the agenda even further, as NFL decision-makers forge a future where the product on the field is as bland as it's ever been. How in the world could you want to see a player celebrate anything? That's for the fans in the stands, dad gum it! The players should be automatons without any thoughts or feelings. Look, we get flagging and fining a player if they do something inappropriate or lewd on a game broadcast, but standing over an opponent to gloat?! That's what competition is all about! This feels like yet another unnecessary step for the league to sanitize the game of any of its fun quirks. Mission accomplished, we guess?
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The NFL is Cracking Down on Violent and Sexually Suggestive Gestures
National Football League The NFL is Cracking Down on Violent and Sexually Suggestive Gestures Published Aug. 21, 2025 3:43 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link The NFL wants players to have fun within the rules. That's why the league will be emphasizing sportsmanship and cracking down on violent and sexually suggestive gestures this season. "Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating or either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133% so that is a point of emphasis," NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said Thursday. "The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It's just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas." In April, the NFL expanded prohibited acts to include banning the "nose wipe" gesture that league executive Troy Vincent said is affiliated with gangs. The unsportsmanlike conduct rule now states: "any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the 'nose wipe' gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive. "There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent," Vincent said in a video that's sent to teams. "There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League What did you think of this story? share Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL will emphasize sportsmanship and crack down on violent and sexually suggestive gestures
The NFL wants players to have fun within the rules. That's why the league will be emphasizing sportsmanship and cracking down on violent and sexually suggestive gestures this season. 'Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating or either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133% so that is a point of emphasis,' NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said Thursday. 'The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It's just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.' In April, the NFL expanded prohibited acts to include banning the 'nose wipe' gesture that league executive Troy Vincent said is affiliated with gangs. The unsportsmanlike conduct rule now states: 'any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the 'nose wipe' gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive. 'There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent,' Vincent said in a video that's sent to teams. 'There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.' ___ AP NFL:
