Antics such as this could cost NFL teams a 15-yard penalty next season. (Reuters)
The days when coaches can chase officials across the field as if they were tracking Adrian Peterson are over.
NFL coaches are often seen screaming into the ears of referees, or running onto the turf to accost linesmen. In baseball that would get a manager sent off like an eighth grader to the principal’s office. In the NBA it would result in a technical foul. But in football the only reaction from officials has been feigned indifference, although a few have been caught looking at Tom Coughlin as if he were some kind of mutant escapee from the insect world.
But, no penalty.
That is about to change. Officials aren’t going to take it anymore.
NFL executive VP of football operations Ray Anderson says the league is preparing to penalize coaches who leave the sideline and step onto the field to yell at officials.
