NFL offers explanation for why Bears player was penalized for taunting on Monday
Many NFL fans were baffled when Bears linebacker Cassius Marsh was flagged for taunting after sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Monday night and when the referee appeared to hip-check Marsh.
On Wednesday, the NFL explained that penalty (and a few others from Week 9), but not the contact between referee Tony Corrente and Marsh.
“He (Marsh) takes several steps toward the Pittsburgh bench, posturing toward their sideline,” Perry Fewell, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, said in a video. “Taunting is a point of emphasis to promote sportsmanship and respect for opponents.”
Twitter user Ari Meirov shared this video of Fewell discussing Marsh, who played for the Steelers and two other teams last season.
The bottom line: it seems players are not allowed to taunt entire teams.
Here is the full video in which Fewell outlines all the decisions in Week 9 games that seemed to confuse fans.
