The NFL is apparently looking to curb antagonistic interactions between players.
The league is stepping up enforcement of its taunting rules in 2021, a league official said on Wednesday.
Refs will be told that taunting flags should be a "point of emphasis" next season, NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay told reporters.
“The face-to-face, the pointing of fingers, the standing over players on the ground,” will be penalized, McKay said, according to Pro Football Talk.
The initiative comes in response to several incidents of poor sportsmanship going unflagged last season, McKay said, and should only affect celebrations directed at opposing players.
One of the indelible images from Super Bowl LV wasn't any particular shot of Tom Brady winning his seventh ring -- but rather rookie safety Antoine Winfield throwing up a peace sign in the face of dejected Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill late in the fourth quarter as the Bucs cruised to an easy win.
Winfield later explained he was merely turning the tables on Hill from when Hill pulled a similar stunt during their regular-season matchup.
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