NFL's head of officiating Dean Blandino has revealed that the league is likely to review its rules on taunting at the end of the current season.
Taunting is currently treated as a dead-ball foul, meaning that the play in question counts and the penalty is assessed on the next play. However, in college football, the play would be nullified and a penalty given at the spot of the foul.
The debate was brought up after Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate began taunting St Louis Rams defenders for the final 25 yards of an 80-yard touchdown, and Blandino admitted that such incidents could cause the rule to be changed.
"A lot of people felt that the touchdown shouldn't have counted [but] a taunting foul is always treated as a dead-ball foul, meaning whatever happened during the play counts, and the foul is enforced on the next play, which would be the kickoff. In college, this action would take back the touchdown," Blandino told the NFL Network.
The Seahawks were penalised 15 yards on the next play as a result of Tate's taunting.
Barney Corkhill
