The NFL intends to crack down on taunting this season, as New York Giants owner John Mara told reporters earlier this week that he and fellow members of the Competition Committee get "sick and tired of the talking" that often occurs between players on the field.
A handful of NFL stars have mocked Mara for his recent taunting comments, and Zach Gelb couldn't agree more with the players' stance on trash talking.
"John Mara's not a happy person these days. He's grumpy, frustrated, upset. Why? Because his football team stinks," Gelb said during Wednesday's edition of The Zach Gelb Show. "There's not a taunting issue in the NFL right now, so let's stop pretending that you and the Competition Committee are up in arms. Stop. There's nothing crazy, there's nothing offensive, there's no ridiculous taunting going on on the football field right now.
"John, here's my message to you: stop worrying about taunting, and how about you actually start worrying about your football team. Because I'm sure there's a lot of Giants fans who are 'sick and tired' of your terrible record the last four years... It's okay when you make a big play, when you break three or four tackles, when you get a big takedown of the quarterback, to show a little emotion. And if John Mara doesn't like it? Tough, John..."
The Competition Committee is comprised of Mara, Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones, Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, Baltimore Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome, Denver Broncos executive John Elway, and head coaches Mike Tomlin, Sean Payton, and Ron Rivera. The exclusive group doesn't have a single active or recently retired NFL player.
The Giants will open up the 2021 season at home against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, New York currently has the third-best odds (+425) to win the NFC East.
Gelb's complete thoughts on Mara and the NFL's taunting crackdown can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.