No Saints player has yet found themselves on the wrong side of the NFL's new anti-taunting focus, but it's clearly on the mind of one particularly fiery competitor.
Yes, that's C.J. Gardner-Johnson, whose ability to get in the heads of opponents during games has been well documented. The talkative safety was on the receiving end of two punches during games last year, and reportedly another in practice.
It's all part of the emotion of the game, he said, and that won't be litigated out with more penalties. In his press conference this week, he joking asked for a taunting penalty to be called on the media.
"I just, to be real, the rule is bullish**, excuse my language, but you can’t stop an emotional player from being who they are. Not me, who we are," Gardner-Johnson said. "A lot of players out there play with emotion on their sleeves, so for you to throw a flag for somebody to get hyped for something that they did that they prepared for, it’s bullish**, but it is what it is. So you gotta just obey the rules and keep it professional.”
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That emotion for many Saints players, but especially Gardner-Johnson, is easy to see -- and hear -- even at practices. He's often in the ear of teammates after big plays, with a level of energy that never seems to waver.
Gardner-Johnson says he's in mid-season form already as he enters his third NFL season entrenched at the highly important nickel corner position for the Saints. That defensive group has looked impressive through two preseason games. Gardner-Johnson pointed to a trio of three-and-outs to start Monday's game against the Jaguars, an offense led by top pick Trevor Lawrence.
But 15-yard penalties at inopportune moments could change the course of even the best-played game, particularly if they're avoidable. Several taunting calls have raised eyebrows throughout the preseason, and two such penalties in any game would result in an automatic ejection. Violations could also be costly in a monetary sense through NFL fines, several of which were levied against Gardner-Johnson, even in instances where he wasn't flagged on the field.
As they do every season, NFL officials have made visits to Saints camp to make calls on practice reps and give players a presentation on what will be focused on from a rules perspective in the upcoming season. Coach Sean Payton said the taunting focus is something he's addressed with players, and his firebrand safety, of course, will have to be able to handle it.
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"He's been at the scene of a few crimes," Payton said earlier in camp, drawing laughs as he managed to -- mostly -- keep a straight face.
So how does an emotional player fit in the new rules paradigm? That's a good question, Gardner-Johnson said. We'll have to wait to see the answer.
"The game is full of rollercoasters and emotions," Gardner-Johnson said. "So, mentally you’ve got to be an athlete and be a professional, and that’s what they’re preaching. So I’m guessing professionalism is at an all-time high right now. So it is what it."
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