There have been plenty of absurd penalties called in the first four weeks of the season, and players are getting fed up. Even the players who weren't penalized think they're ridiculous, such as Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas.
@nflcommish Question: now that the #NFL war on #fun has eliminated the bow + arrow celebration and the ball spin, would the
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) October 5, 2016
@GilbertBrown "gravedigger" and @JaredAllen69 "calf rope" celebration also be illegal since shovels and ropes are used in acts of violence?
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) October 5, 2016
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Thomas is referring to Redskins cornerback Josh Norman being penalized for shooting an imaginary arrow in last Sunday's game. Former VP of officiating Mike Pereira said the league views shooting an arrow the same as shooting a gun because they are both acts of violence.
As Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post brilliantly points out, it's a bit hypocritical of the league to take this stance. But it seems like something officials are determined to crack down on, no matter how much the players oppose it.
