ESPN Sunday, NFL countdown to address the controversies
surrounding the roughing, the passer calls and I commend
the effort at transparency. I long for the days of Mike, Pereira
and Dean blandino
working for the league office and on a regular basis, either
on NFL Network or through videos, it would be sent to
the media explaining in a very transparent and honest and open
way
mistakes that were made or not made,
just give us the Straight Dope, don't circle the wagons
Give us alternative facts,
give us the truth, about the calls that were made and how it
all works. And Troy Vincent, came dangerously close to
telling us the truth, the whole truth and nothing, but
the truth yesterday
he said in a nutshell Miles. Number one,
we support those calls,
not because they were right, he didn't say that,
we support them because this is the one rule that gives
the referee latitude to be wrong. It says it in the rule book,
when in doubt, throw the flag
to protect the quarterbacks. And this is where Vincent went
farther than I thought he would. And it,
I'm not saying I agree with it because I think there needs to
be a firewall between the NFL's business interest, and
the Integrity of the game, right? Vincent started quoting
the numbers about
X, you know, 90 Plus at the top
100, most watched views are most watched shows on TV are
NFL games and we want to have quarterbacks available. You
don't have quarterbacks games aren't any good? That's
the NFL's. Interest
trumping the Integrity of the game. We're willing to screw
a team here or there. We're willing to have the Falcons
lose a game. They could have one
because we want our referee to protect the quarterback so we
want him to throw the flag to make sure there's this bubble
around the quarterbacks. So defensive players think twice
before potentially hurting quarterbacks
because we want as many quarterbacks healthy as we can
even if we have to screw a team or two along the way,
that's a problem.
That's a real problem. Mmm,
but the NFL doesn't care.
They're allowing the business interest to overcome
the Integrity of each and every game miles.
They are and that's what the biggest problem is. You can't
have that and then still expect folks to be happy with
the outcomes, right? These defensive players get paid
millions and millions and millions of dollars to
to make plays Chris Jones gets paid to Sate quarterbacks right
Von Miller.
The Difference Maker in that game between the bills and
the Chiefs gets paid millions and millions of dollars to set,
quarterbacks influence and affect things. Aaron Donald
gets paid millions of dollars because he can get in
the backfield and Sack quarterbacks and influence and affect things
from a defensive standpoint. So
the problem really is the inconsistencies that's why
I loved what got reported from ESPN and Adam schefter talking
about Mike Vrabel sending that reply all email which has
And I appreciate that videos.
Yeah, what's that? It did happen.
Yeah, look, I appreciate the videos, but, yeah, you know,
let's make sure that the officiating is consistent.
That's where we need to spend our time.
I totally agree with that. Mike brambles, got a point and it's
the same thing. The Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said
a couple weeks ago with the Grady Jared thing, right? I want to
know how to coach our guys
because if this is now illegal, what Jarrett?
Did the Tom Brady?
Then that means we got a coach it differently.
So, how the hell are they supposed to coaches? They can't
with what they can't. That's the problem. And that's what
exactly told me yesterday. He watched the Jer
Grady Jared play, he watched the Chris Jones play,
they did their jobs to Perfection. So what do you do?
You know what? Come on Williams does yesterday. He hits Aaron
Rodgers
and throws his hands up in the air because he's afraid he's
going to get flagged for doing his job. Meanwhile, the balls
bouncing around on the field. He could have gotten on it
recovered it. Bleah, scooped it and scored.
So
look, the defensive players just have to accept the fact
that it may happen. Just go do your job and like, Quinton
Williams, told me yesterday. Just worry about the next play,
if they flag you for it. So be it, there's nothing you can do
because this is the
way we're supposed to do our job. And if they're going to
choose to penalize us, for roughing the passer, there's
nothing more, we can do to alter that outcome
because this is the way we're supposed to play the game.
But that and but that's a problem.
How can we do this? How can we keep doing this? I mean
I understand obviously that quarterbacks here when we lie
a big watch put away a
he's the balls are we so worried about getting flagged?
He did the balls bouncing around. Yes and that's not fair
that's not fair to him and not life isn't fair and
I understand that and he's still getting paid Millions dollars
but
I just I don't like
to see guys being that worried about doing their jobs and
doing what they Get paid to do
just because it's so inconsistent. I just, if we're
gonna do it, let's just have everything consistent and then
the other thing don't want Mi again. Back to the point,
it's not about consistency, it's not a bad knee. Already
the game, it's about making sure that quarterbacks are
available. So we'll tune in in record numbers and watch think
of this example, then we got to take a break.
I just, I need to say this before we take a break.
And this may help people understand how messed up. This is,
let's say that for some reason.
The American audience, love to watch a lot of field goals,
and that there was some proven
connection between more field goals. Means more people, tune
in and watch the game, and they were officiating games in a way
that engineered more field goals.
We would say, that's really messed up.
That's what they're doing.
They know what results in higher viewership their
officiating the games in a way that's conducive to the thing
that leads to higher viewership, not anything to do
with the Integrity, the game. I want people to understand that.
That they are undermining, deliberately and consciously,
the Integrity of the game. In order to advance the business
interests of the NFL and people need to start talking about it.
And people need to start yelling about it because that's
the only way it's ever going to change.
But you know what, I don't think it will.
hit, subscribe for the latest news and Analysis from pro
football talk.