NFL to teams: ease up on the trash talking

Associated Press

CHICAGO

The NFL has warned players to cut out the trash talk, specifically when it threatens other players.

“Ray Anderson reminded players that comments of a physically threatening nature are always taken into account in evaluating discipline for any illegal physical contact on the field,” league spokesman Greg Aiello said on Saturday.

Anderson, the NFL executive vice president of football operations, was the league’s chief disciplinarian. He told teams, including all eight remaining in the playoffs, to basically watch it.

Since October, the NFL has ratcheted up its enforcement of hits to defenseless players with a series of fines — and the threat of suspension. No suspensions have been handed out, but the recent rash of trash talk before playoff games prompted Anderson to further emphasize the need to respect the game and opponents.

This week, New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie described New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady with a derogatory term. New York is at New England on Sunday in the final divisional round game this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs wore a T-shirt with a Raven on it extending a middle finger. Suggs said he was “representing” Baltimore as it headed to Saturday’s playoff game at Pittsburgh.

In the second meeting of the regular season between the AFC North rivals, the Ravens broke Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s nose — accidentally — on a hit by nose tackle Haloti Ngata.

“I was glad we broke his nose,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said with a wry grin this week, “and I was very impressed he played through it.”