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Before Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter spit on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, the NFL's leadership warned players about 'violent gestures' being outlawed from the game.
During the league's season-opening showpiece game, Carter was ejected before the first play from scrimmage due to his saliva-forward act.
Supplemental punishment could come for the behemoth defensive lineman, with the act being placed among the gestures the NFL wants out of the game.
From a video released by the league last month, NFL executive Troy Vincent spoke about his vision for what needed to be removed from the gridiron.
The clips showed then-Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins standing over Denver Broncos defensive back Patrick Surtain, taunting him, in an infraction that Vincent believes should have been a 15-yard penalty.
Then, the video transitioned to wide receivers Drake London and Malik Nabers making a gun gestures as celebrations.
NFL players were warned about 'violent gestures' before Jalen Carter's spitting incident
NFL executive Troy Vincent sent the memo out to teams before the season began last month
'There's no place in the game to be standing over your opponent,' Vincent said. 'There's no place in the game to have violent gestures. That's not the game of football.'
'We just to have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates, and play the game in between the whistles.'
While Vincent did not address spitting on an opponent directly in the video, it appears to be based on Thursday night's actions something the NFL does now want to happen again.
It remains to be seen whether Prescott is also punished after shock new footage appeared to show him spitting at Carter first. Typically, the NFL hits players with fines rather than suspensions for such offenses.
It now appears that it was Dak who drew first blood - or rather first spit - before the first snap of the game.
Carter took offense at the action, claiming it was 'hostile' while his teammate was down on the turf, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
As Prescott attempted to explain it wasn't his intention, Carter, the best player on the Super Bowl champions' defense, got carried away and spat at the signal caller's face.
