Former NFL Officiating Head: League May Use Current 'Abusive Language' Rules to Penalize 'N-word'

After those on the NFL Competition Committee revealed that the league was considering penalizing the use of the N-word, former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira said the NFL may not adopt a formal rule and instead ask officials to police certain types of language with current rules.

The NFL can already penalize abusive language, and the league “will probably make racial slurs a point of emphasis.” The current rule against abusive language says, “Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials ore representatives of the league.”