Should the NFL repremand "actors"?

[Dave Gray]

There was a play this week where a QB (I think it was Kerry Collins) took a huge flop after a play, trying to draw a personal foul flag.  It happens a lot with punters flailing all around if they get tapped on the foot.

Do you think that these performances should be punishable by the league.  If so, how?

[Frimp]

No...As much as I hate it, there's no way to determine if the fall was legitimate or not. Most of the time, it isn't, but what happens if a defensive lineman hits a QB, and he really does lose his balance and fall?

[stinkfish]

No flopping in football. Let it stay in soccer, and basketball.

[CF DolFan]

No flopping in football. Let it stay in soccer, and basketball.

While it is prevalent in soccer, there is actually a penalty for flopping. I think there should be one in football as well.

[fyo]

Isn't it pretty obviously covered under "unsportsmanlike conduct"?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think they should just ignore it.  If you ignore a problem like this, it will go away.

[bsfins]

I think it Was Gus Fererotte that was Flailing on the Ground....

I think it's hard to throw the flag,for flopping...Couldn't you throw it on the Punter anytime someone gets within a yard of him? They are Oscar worthy performances....I think it should be a 5 yard penalty,but I'm not sure what you'd call it ...other than Flopping...

Willie Mcginest against the Colts, it was Awesome Strategy....but it's hard to feel someones pain....

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Isn't it pretty obviously covered under "unsportsmanlike conduct"?

During the game -- Yes. 

If it is obvious after the game someone was acting, I could see fining him, particularly if the act changed the result of the play, a penalty or adversely affected the clock for the other team. 

[Brian Fein]

BS - the NFL is already the No Fun League.  We don't need more reasons to fine people. 

What does a QB "flopping" have to do with the game?  Let him flop!  It doesn't give his team an advantage.  If the referee can identify it as a "flop" enough to levy a penalty for flopping, then he can recognize it as a good non-call as well.  It has no impact on the game, and should not be penalized.

[StL FinFan]

If a player takes a dive, then their punishment is that the referee does not call a penalty on the player that hit touched him.  Problem solved.

[Dolphin-UK]

Deliberately simulating a fall to extract penalty against your opposition is the very defenition of unsportsmanlike conduct.  It's cheating, and is probably of more concern than some of the dubious "late hit" fines being dished out right now.

The problem is you can't call it in the game, there's too much going on, but assuming you can even call it after the game I wouldn't be against fining players for doing it.

My exception is that with punters, it's slightly different, I suspect a lot of their flops are to protect their kicking leg which is what earns them their living and is often the most exposed part to getting hit by 250 pound of muscle.  One of their tricks is to keep their kicking foot in the air, therefore if they are touched they are more likely to go over, that's not taking a dive that's just clever play, and guys know they can't hit the punter once the ball is gone.

[Phishfan]

As a former soccer player I can say that taking a dive is truly an art form. Every player on the field tries to gain an advantage. This is just another form of it.

[BigDaddyFin]

actually most of the time when the punter does it, it's pretty funny.  I think that's why they stopped showing it on the replay.  They know he's taking a dive so why waste time with all that? 

Maybe flag the quarterbacks for it.  They get enough protection from the rules as it is.

[NADS]

No penalty but the color analyst should bring full attention to it in some demeaning manner.  Maybe Tampax or a similar company could sponsor a yearly award for taking a dive.