NFL game officials need a time out
TOO MANY FLAGS: Inconsistency with calls incurring wrath of coaches and players across the league
When I was a teen in the late ’70s, Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the open hostility being expressed around the NFL against game officials.
The issue’s publication date: Oct. 9, 1978.
“We were robbed! The game was stolen from us. The officials are like God,” Cleveland Browns safety Thom Darden was quoted as snarling after a clear-cut Pittsburgh fumble recovered by the Browns was nullified by an official who had mistakenly blown his whistle early.
“They have the power to give and take away. They decided this time to take away.”
SI’s memorable front-cover headline for that piece: “It’s open season on the Zebras.” It is again. Chirping, griping, whining, whinging and belly-aching, call it what you will. But the screams seemed louder than ever Sunday, emanating from all corners of the U.S. and even from across the Atlantic in jolly old England.
That’s where Washington Redskins CB Josh Norman went off during a news conference after being flagged five times (four for illegal hands to the face) in a 27-27 tie with Cincinnati.
“Who is 88?” Norman asked reporters. Seriously, he wanted to know the name of the official wearing No. 88. Answer: third-year field judge Brad Freeman.
“He sucked. I’m just going to be honest with you. I’m going to be straightforward. He was terrible. I feel like he should be reprimanded.”
Back in America, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll and his Seahawks were livid that their side was penalized 11 times for 76 yards in a 25-20 loss at New Orleans when the host Saints were flagged just twice for 10 yards. Two Seattle penalties nullified first downs.
New Orleans entered the games as one of the most penalized teams in the league, Carroll pointed out, “so we thought that might match up for us, and that might not be a deciding factor in the game. But the (disparity) thing, that’s pretty far out of whack.”
In what must have been a barely watchable flag-fest, the Oakland Raiders were penalized an NFL-record 23 times for 200 yards, yet still won 30-24 in overtime at Tampa Bay.
If the zebras are going to throw more flags to the point they’re pulling out their shoulders, how about letting some of the lesser stuff go and doing more to protect star players such as Cam Newton?
Hero
Nick Foles, QB, Chiefs. The Eagles and Rams discard jumped off the bench, after Alex Smith was concussed, and threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns over the last three quarters to help the Chiefs blow out the Colts in Indy, and thereby keep pace with the victorious Broncos and Raiders in the tough AFC West.
Zero
Jacksonville Jaguars. If you missed their no-show Thursday in the blowout loss at Tennessee, consider yourself fortunate. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an NFL defence quit like that on some of the Titans later scoring drives, specifically in their phantom, feeble ‘attempts’ to tackle Titans ball carriers. The Jags subsequently fired offensive co-ordinator Greg Olson, replacing him with QBs coach and ex-Buffalo offensive co-ordinator Nate Hackett. A huge housecleaning in Jacksonville could be coming.