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NFL crackdown on gang signs

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Hand signals captured on videotape are once again being scrutinized around the NFL. Only this time, it's not the New England Patriots studying them for a competitive advantage, but league officials in search of a more sinister message. The NFL, concerned that some players might celebrate by flashing the hand signals of street gangs, has hired experts to examine game tapes and identify the gestures. "There have been some suspected things we've seen," said Milt Ahlerich, the league's vice president of security. "When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist. Period." Ahlerich says the league has long warned its players about the influence of gangs and other forms of organized crime, but that those admonishments have intensified since the 2007 killing of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was gunned down after an altercation involving known gang members. NFL game officials will not be responsible for identifying gang signals but will alert league headquarters of anything unusual or suspicious they see. League executives declined to outline what action might be taken against offenders, but Pereira said, "it will be dealt with harshly. The commissioner is not going to stand for gang signals on the field."

Los Angeles Times

Roger Goodell, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Roger Goodell, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
July 16, 2008  07:17 AM ET

Call this the Paul Pierce rule. I don't think organized crime is in sports, right Stern.

July 16, 2008  07:24 AM ET

now will the officials throw the flag and then reiterate these signs for the stadium crowd when they call the penalty?

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July 16, 2008  07:31 AM ET

No place in the game for these types of things. Just play the game.

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July 16, 2008  07:44 AM ET

"now will the officials throw the flag and then reiterate these signs for the stadium crowd when they call the penalty?"

nah, would assume it will be handled behind the scenes. like a dress code fine. although suspensions for a repeated violation might not be out of the question. probably a slap on the wrist fine 1st offense, 1 game suspension 2nd time, etc.

July 16, 2008  08:01 AM ET

Not everytime someone flashes a hand signal is it a gang sign.. in fact 95% of the time it's not. Most of the time it's just repping the town or neighborhood where they grew up and has nothing to do with a gang.

July 16, 2008  08:07 AM ET

Caption should read, " I just craped my pants!"

July 16, 2008  08:11 AM ET

So this is part of fixing in the NFL right?

July 16, 2008  08:14 AM ET

Good move as these players can celebrate but quit doing the
gang bang signs as kids will think thats cool, and it hurts society.
3 game (minimum)suspension would kill the signs....

July 16, 2008  08:18 AM ET

This is good, There's no need to glorify organized violence/crime in a game watched by millions of children.

July 16, 2008  08:18 AM ET

Just don't go thinking that the North American Sign Language hand signal for 'I love you' is in any way satanic or gang related.

July 16, 2008  08:23 AM ET

Happiness is a warm gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)
Happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)
When I hold you in my arms (Oo-oo oh yeah)
And I feel my finger on your trigger (Oo-oo oh yeah)
I know no one can do me no harm (Oo-oo oh yeah)
Because happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)
Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)
Happiness is a warm, yes it is, gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)
Well, don't you know happiness is a warm gun, mama? (Happiness is a warm gun, yeah)

July 16, 2008  08:26 AM ET

The NFL is turning into the THUG league.

July 16, 2008  08:52 AM ET

Quit drafting/hiring players who hurt the NFL's pure image (HAHAHAH!!!). Is the middle finger salute a gang signal or does it merely mean that your team is #1?

July 16, 2008  08:53 AM ET

Bill O' Nerous | 07/16/08, 08:23 AM

Quoting song lyrics is so impressive.

July 16, 2008  09:14 AM ET

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This has been going on for far too long.

July 16, 2008  09:17 AM ET

This will turn into a mess by the end of the day....mark my words.
I researched some "signs" I have seen; ok I asked my teenage boys, and some of them were pretty vulgar and quiet often derogatory to women. Now my kids and I don???t freak out over this stuff, I live in an environment where crude jokes are the norm so that is not my point. I will say that flashing some relatively obscure ???sign??? to a multi-million person audience for shakka (pun intended) effect is quite childish. I don???t know what labels to place on these players except maybe juvenile.....
Let???s see where this goes today.....should be interesting

July 16, 2008  09:18 AM ET

interesting the ????? appearing from text brought in from MS Word 2007; put in quotes or apostrphes please

 
July 16, 2008  09:22 AM ET

smh, now the comissioner wants to clean things up...Is it me or does Goodell looks like the highlander? "There can only be one"

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