SEATTLE — It was a sign of the times last Thursday for DK Metcalf — a sign he's been devoting his free time to American Sign Language (ASL).
The Seattle Seahawks finished the game as the most penalized team in the NFL, but it was through no fault of Metcalf.
Metcalf, a wide receiver, scored three touchdowns against Dallas, and he kept quiet after each. He had learned his lesson from a series of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties early in the season.
The trash talk has been replaced with smack symbols.
Metcalf scored on a 73-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give Seattle an early lead. Upon crossing the goal line, he signed "Standing on business," which is a slang term popularized on the Internet and means "taking care of business."
Metcalf explained his actions were inspired by a teammate.
"Boye (Mafe) did that when he was walking out of the meeting Wednesday night. He did it one time and I was like, 'One more time.' I said, 'Again.' He said, 'Standing on Business.' I said, 'Ok, I'm using that tomorrow when I score.'"
The origin story goes back even further.
In 2017, Metcalf was a sophomore at Ole Miss and taking a summer class with Dr. Ronda Bryan.
"He was able to watch me sign something and then turn around and immediately reproduce the sign quickly and accurately," Bryan said. The course was introductory ASL.
Bryan had never had a football player before, but thanks to Metcalf, has had many since.
"I think a lot of the things that make DK a really good athlete are the things that made him particularly successful and learning a visual language," she said.
But like most languages, ASL is "use it or lose it."
Metcalf was starting from square one at the start of the NFL season. It had been six years since he had used the language.
Every Tuesday, Metcalf said he works with his teacher, Darrell Utley from Tennessee, over Zoom once a week.
"I'm very impressed with how he approaches the learning. I can tell because of the questions he's asking. There's a deep level of curiosity," Utley said. Utley is a deaf instructor and has been teaching virtually for the past few years.
He said he didn't know who Metcalf was when they first met, but he sure does now.
"I'm shocked," Utley said. "I'm not going to lie, I'm shocked that DK would choose to use his platform. Of all the things he can choose to talk about, and all the things he can choose to shine lights on."
Utley said the deaf community has often been marginalized and overlooked, leading many deaf children to be deprived of language and of their own identity.
Bryan added that, "if this inspires others to learn some sign language, then that just creates more accessible environments."
What started as a way to silently trash talk has become a gesture that speaks for itself.
"Every time we interact or any time I know something that he signs to me, I can see just his smile light up," Metcalf said. "[It] brings light to a community who I didn't know felt unseen or felt like they were being forgotten about."
