NFL Expected to Penalize N-Word Use on Field -- and Second Offenders Had Better Watch Out

The NFL is expected to add a rule banning players from uttering the N-word on the field or else receive a 15 yard penalty.

John Wooten (Image source: YouTube clip)

John Wooten — the head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which monitors diversity in the NFL — said the league's competition committee will likely enact the rule at the owners' meeting next month, ESPN reported.

Wooten said he believes the league will rule that second-time offenders get ejected from the game. "I think they're going to do what needs to be done here," Wooten said, according to CBSSports.com. "There is too much disrespect in the game."

"I will be totally shocked if the competition committee does not uphold us on what we're trying to do," he said. "We want this word to be policed from the parking lot to the equipment room to the locker room.

"Secretaries, PR people, whoever, we want it eliminated completely and want it policed everywhere."

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who sits on the league's competition committee, told ESPN that the committee discussed other slurs, including homophobic slurs.

The competition committee meets for several days in Naples, Fla. next week, where they will determine will be presented to owners at league meetings in March.

(H/T: Drudge Report)