Raiders' Darren Waller referred to as for horrible taunting penalty after spiking ball in 'Monday Evening Soccer' recreation

Essentially the most controversial rule of the 2021 NFL season, taunting, as soon as once more reared its ugly head throughout the “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup between the Chargers and Raiders.

This time, Las Vegas tight finish Darren Waller was referred to as for it. His crime? Spiking the ball after his 21-yard reception from Derek Carr earned his crew’s first first down of the sport — on the crew’s fifth offensive possession.

MORE: NFL taunting guidelines, defined: Why penalties shall be referred to as extra usually throughout 2021 season

There’s simply no place in right this moment’s recreation for that kind of habits. Apparently. The penalty negated a lot of the yardage gained on the play, transferring the Raiders from their 41 again to their 26 — a internet acquire of 6 yards. The Raiders in the end punted. Las Vegas went on to lose 28-14.

“I do not perceive what occurred over there on the Chargers’ sideline, however the official made the decision, we have now to cope with it,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden stated after the sport. “We could not get any momentum going; that did not assist us.”

The rule has been closely criticized by gamers — together with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady — and followers; the difficulty got here to a head in Week 2, with a number of questionable calls throughout the slate making headlines. Bears security Tashaun Gipson was one of many first to be referred to as for taunting, prompting him to say after the sport, “You do not know should you may be joyful.”

Regardless of the widespread dislike of the rule, Giants proprietor John Mara stated the rule obtained loads of help from coaches and homeowners.

MORE: Mara explains help, implementation of NFL’s new taunting rule focus

“That is one thing we focus on yearly within the competitors committee, we get type of sick and uninterested in the speaking that does go on every so often on the sphere. We attempt to stability the sportsmanship with permitting the gamers to have enjoyable. There’s at all times a advantageous line. None of us wish to see that,” Mara stated.

“It is only a query of whether or not you possibly can have guidelines that may be enforced with out taking the enjoyable out of the sport, too. No person desires to see a participant taunting one other participant. I do know I definitely do not. I do know the remainder of the members of the competitors committee really feel the identical, too,” he added.

MORE: Colts’ LeMay flagged for taunting as a result of he . . . received too enthusiastic about his cool run?

Unsurprisingly, Mara’s clarification of the controversial rule has achieved little to placate those that dislike it. Such was the case on Monday:

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