Referee Jeff Triplette's crew, which worked the Seahawks-Panthers game last week, repeatedly warned players about profanities directed at each other and even flagged the Seattle's K.J. Wright for mouthing a loud obscenity at a Carolina player.

Technically, it was a taunting penalty, but the NFL Competition Committee recommended emphasis on such verbal abuse.

League VP of officiating Dean Blandino conceded Saturday to ESPN that officials want to curtail "actions [verbal or otherwise] directed at an opponent."

Blandino said profanity by itself is not prohibited, but where verbal actions are directed at an opponent, it's usually profane.

In light of the many scuffles that surfaced in Week 1 and this past Thursday night between the New England Patriots and New York Jets, more enforcement is anticipated.