The NCAA has proposed the Saban Rule. The NFL is proposing the Incognito Rule:


http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10...al-slurs-games


While I do not condone the use of the word in any context, except possibly as historical documentation, I really think if this passes it will either be a nightmare to enforce or it will be almost totally ignored.

Even a NFL player says this is going to be difficult:


http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/...ice-use-n-word


When a ref hears the word coming from the bottom of a pile, and no way to tell who said it, what is he going to do? What happens when a player calls another player on his team the word? What about when a player whispers the offending word in the ear of the QB he has just sacked? What about all the other insulting words and phrases?

Just way too many possibilities and chances of unintended conseqences in my opinion. And what happens if/when a playoff game or the Super Bowl outcome is decided by such a penalty? While I applaud the intent, the execution is fraught with uncertainty.

The players have a "way" of dealing with this sort of stuff on the field, while not exactly legal some of the time, it is a way. I say leave it to the players to police themselves.