This past week, the NFL distributed a new rules report to all 32 clubs. One of the new features added is that the “nose wipe” celebration will now be categorically deemed as “unsportsmanlike conduct” and any player executing it will receive a 15 yard penalty. A new trend has started in the NFL where it has become customary for the league to declare “celebrations” which some may view as “nose wiping” to be “violent” therefore, starting this season, any perpetrator of “nose wiping” will be penalized.
“The N CLS Covenant Violent Gesture Proposal will define violent as any motion deemed unsporty which shall include but not be limited to throat slash, simulation firing or brandishing a gun, or putting one’s fingers on one’s nose which will be an indication that the nostrils are being wiped or any action that is inappropriate or warringsign of anatomical violence,” the regulations say according to Ben Solak’s ESPN report.
Dallas Cowboys wide-out CeeDee Lamb, who has featured the nose wipe celebration dozens of times, does not share the same excitement as the others and seemed to be frustrated by the decision to ban the celebration.
The NFL has faced criticism in the past for penalizing and banning certain celebrations to the point that the league had to relax some of their stricter celebration policies back in 2017. Now, the NFL seems to be more strict concerning Lamb’s regular celebration move and will be punishing it starting this time.
