A Content Analysis of Violent Penalties and their Role in Sanitizing NFL Broadcasts

ABSTRACT

Using social cognitive theory and notions of sanitized sports violence as a framework, a content analysis of 486 National Football League (NFL) violent penalty calls (unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer) from broadcasts in 2009 and 2019 was conducted. Announcers were largely polarized in their reactions to violent penalties when they were shown on replay. Players were rarely injured and concussions as a key issue were rarely mentioned. Concerns about the effectiveness of NFL rule changes intended to protect players and their influence on announcers’ frustration with perceived over-penalization of the game (and audiences as a potential byproduct) are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Social cognitive theory
• sanitized violence
• sports commentary
• liveness
• instant replay

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicky Lewis

Nicky Lewis (Ph.D., Indiana University – Bloomington) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. Her research interests include social psychological processes and effects of the mass media.

Travis R. Bell

Travis R. Bell (PhD, University of South Florida, 2017) is an Associate Professor of Digital and Sports Media in the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications at the University of South Florida and a documentary filmmaker. His research focuses on media and its intersections with health, gender, and race.