On Tuesday, the NFL referees’ labor organization denounced “conspiracy theories” that officials have been slanting games in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has to confront the widespread and unfounded claims that referees are the bag for Kansas City this week as the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles prepare for Sunday’s Super Bowl.
NFLRA executive director Scott Green stated that Commissioner Goodell’s remarks that it is absurd to assume that NFL officials are not making every effort to call the correct play are accurate.
During a regular season, officiating crews only work the same team twice. Hearing conspiracy theories that claim that 17 officiating crews, totaling 138 officials, are conspiring to support one team is offensive and absurd.
The union noted that “grades are the determining factor as to who receives postseason assignments” and that its members receive grades “every week, on every single play of each game.”
During a 17-game season, fans may be concerned about a variety of issues, including coaching choices, player ailments, the weather, and yes, even near misses on amazing plays by amazing athletes, Green added.
However, you can be sure that NFL officials are doing all in their power to officiate every play accurately on every down, both on the field and in the replay booth.
None of the 234 words in the union’s statement mentioned the “Chiefs” or “Kansas City.”
The context of its advisory, however, couldn’t have been more obvious: despite the fact that Kansas City has been receiving yellow flags for years, unfounded referee/Chiefs conspiracy theories are continuously being disseminated by internet warriors and meme makers.
Since taking over as the starting quarterback in the fall of 2018, Patrick Mahomes has guided Kansas City to three Super Bowl victories and an incredible 17-3 playoff run.
Additionally, Kansas City has only been given more penalty yards than the opposition three times in those 20 postseason games.
In the last 12 K.C. postseason games, the penalty tilt has been especially intense, with Chiefs opponents receiving more yellow flags 11 times and one tie. In 11 of the 12 games, K.C. opponents have suffered more penalty yardage.
Earlier this week, former Boston radio program host Rich Shertenlieb made fun of both Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce for the supposed zebra favoritism, which escalated the Chiefs/referees controversy.
“Patrick, you have had so many wonderful people help you win throughout your career,” Shertenlieb said to Mahomes. Who is your favorite referee, then?
After chuckling and saying, “That’s hilarious,” Mahomes launched into a standard defense of the referees, saying, “All the referees are great, man.” The referees are all excellent. They try their hardest. And we play the game the proper way out there.
When Shertenlieb said, “Travis, what do you love more?” Kelce appeared less amused.In the playoffs, is Taylor Swift or Phantom15-yardroughing the passer penalties?
“That’s a good question,” Kelce said, dismissing the trolling inquiry. Is there anyone else?
The number of penalties the Chiefs have received during the seven years of the Mahomes era has been all over the place.
Kansas City was flagged 137 times for 1,152 yards during the 2018 regular season, which finished in a loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game. These were NFL highs.
Although this regular season was especially good for avoiding yellow laundry, the Chiefs have been in the center of the pack ever since. The Chiefs finished a strong 11th from the bottom with 94 flags, the fourth fewest in the NFL, for 829 yards.
The Chiefs have benefited from a few near misses, but no egregiously bad flags have been called during this legendary K.C. playoff run.
-
San Francisco 49ers fans are still bitter about a game-turning, Mahomes-to-Tyreek Hill pass in the fourth quarter
of the 2020 Super Bowl.
Niners pass rusher
Nick Bosa appeared to be held
and prevented from a sack that could have iced the game for San Francisco.
-
In the 2023 Super Bowl, Eagles cornerback James Bradberry was flagged for a third-down defensive holding call against Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, allowing K.C. to bleed the clock and kick a short winning field goal. While Bradberry
admitted to the penalty
after the game, much of the football fan world
disagreed with that call
.
-
And just 1 weeks ago in the AFC title game, it appeared that Buffalo Bills QB
made the line
to gain of a
key fourth-and-inches
play. The call went in K.C. s favor and the Chiefs cashed in that fourth-quarter stop
for their last TD
of that game, a
32-29 victory
.
According to the union, “integrity of the game” is crucial.
“The NFL Referees Association, the union representing all NFL Officials, appreciates the NFL Commissioner s comments yesterday about our members unwavering dedication to fairness and maintaining the integrity of the game,” according to a statement released by the union on Tuesday.