The NFL’s debate over the N-word is heating up.

While the league’s Competition Committee meets in Florida about potentially banning the use of the word during games, one of the league’s top stars — and perhaps its most outspoken — came out swinging against the rule, which would penalize players 15 yards for a first use of the N-word on the field and eject them from the game for a second.

“It’s an atrocious idea,” Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman told Sports Illustrated. “It’s almost racist, to me. It’s weird they’re targeting one specific word. Why wouldn’t all curse words be banned, then?”

One of the rule’s biggest proponents, Hall of Famer Harry Carson, defended its importance.

“I find it disheartening that in our society today, we’re having a debate about the N-word being used as a term of endearment,” said the former Giant, who is executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which focuses on front-office and coaching opportunities for minorities in the NFL.

“Go up to your grandfather or an elderly black person and use it on them,” the 60-year-old Carson told SI. “See how they react. For those who use it, I say they have no sense of history.”

A vote on a potential rule change won’t take place until later this month, when NFL owners meet in Orlando.