The NFL Competition Committee is all for banning the use of racial slurs during games, and they are giving emphasis on the N-word. The committee was in Florida over the weekend discussing the penalties for players.
Richard Sherman, cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, has said his piece on the matter to Peter King of Sports Illustrated. Sherman is against the idea saying that it is atrocious and almost racist that they are specifically targeting the N-word.
Sherman continued to say that the N-word is not always said as a racial slur, especially when it’s said to a fellow African-American player. “It’s in the locker room and on the field at all times,” he says.
I approve this message!! –> @stephenasmith and @RSherman_25 on banning the N-word in the #NFL http://t.co/pTYS4mjqWj
— Brittany J. Harris (@BrittanyJanay) March 3, 2014
Hey NFL giving a 15 yard penalty to a team if a player uses the N word is racist, cause you’re creating a penalty only black players can get
— Ian Edwards (@IanEdwardsComic) February 25, 2014
King also got the opinion of two other African-American players, D’Qwell Jackson and Jason McCourty. McCourty agrees with Sherman saying that the N-word is just like calling someone “man” or “bro.” D’Qwell, on the other hand, disagrees with the two.
Jackson adds that implementing the rule would make it harder for referees to officiate the game, as they will have to keep a lookout for players who use the N-word in the field.
Ryan Clark, safety for the Steelers, also mentioned that chairman Dan Rooney already tried getting rid of the word and only had temporary results. Clark says that the word was never muttered for a day, but after a while, it came back. “It’s the culture.”
The committee is in talks about giving players a 15-yard penalty for saying racial slurs on the field. According to Ozzie Newsome, Baltimore Ravens general manager who is also part of the competition committee, they are not only targeting the N-word, but homophobic slurs as well.
FUNNY @OandAshow – this is what we imagine a 15 yard penalty for saying the “N Word” in NFL game would look like https://t.co/5HaLbK3gYG
— opie radio (@OpieRadio) February 27, 2014
The NFL will be addressing the issue and a new rule may be implemented if it gets approval in the upcoming owners’ meetings, which will be held from March 23 to 26 in Orlando.
Nfl trying to pass a policy for a 15 yard penalty when someone drops the n-bomb on the field. Lmao theres gonna be a lot of penalties
— Mike DeSimone (@mikedesimone12) March 4, 2014
Image via YouTube