Early in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, New York Jet Calvin Pryor made a great tackle to stop Miami Dolphins tailback Jay Ajayi 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The play wound up a 10-yard net for Miami after officials decided Pryor’s post-play celebration constituted taunting.
The Jets’ Calvin Pryor earned a taunting flag for brushing his jersey off
Calvin Pryor brought down Jay Ajayi for a loss, then gave it all right back because this league hates fun.
Pryor earned a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for brushing his jersey off, pointing to the sideline, and then high-fiving teammate Leonard Williams. Instead of facing 2nd-and-15 at the New York 39, the Dolphins were gifted a first-and-10 situation at the NYJ 24. Two plays later, Ajayi rumbled 20 yards to give Miami a 7-3 lead.
The defensive back’s minimalist celebration kinda-sorta falls under the league’s celebration rules. Section 3, Article 1 defines the prohibited acts that will earn players an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in 2016. Here’s where Pryor’s post-play moves fall:
(b) Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.Violations of (b) will be penalized if any of the acts are committed directly at an opponent. These acts include, but are not limited to: sack dances; home run swing; incredible hulk; spiking the ball; spinning the ball; throwing or shoving the ball; pointing; pointing the ball; verbal taunting; military salute; standing over an opponent (prolonged and with provocation); or dancing.
Was Pryor dancing? Was his point to the sideline done with ill intent? At least one referee seemed to think so.
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