The current NFL product is generally liked by most fans. While it's not perfect, the sport is being viewed by more people than ever. Also, with names such as Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow leading the charge, the next generation of superstars is here as well.
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However, if there's one thing football fans don't like, it's the referees. While officials have never been loved by fans, they've come under heavy fire over the last few years. The criticism goes beyond just the fans as well. Over the past few years, many football players have taken referees to task, with them being right on many occasions.
10 Joey Bosa
In one of the more recent occasions in which a player blasted the referees, Joey Bosa was unhappy earlier this year. Following the Los Angeles Chargers blowing a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the multiple-time All-Pro stated:
“If I say something to them, I get a $40,000 fine. But if they blow a call that ruins an entire team’s season, they’ll probably be back in the locker room after the game like, ‘Haha, got that a**hole. Oh yeah, got him 15 yards. What a loser."
Those comments were just a few in a long rant that Bosa had following the loss. While he's correct that the dynamic between the two sides isn't fair, that's beside the point. Blaming officials when your team blew a four-possession lead is incredibly bad, and not something that the refs deserve blame for.
9 Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield's emotions were surely running high following a 47-42 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. While the game was a shootout, the-then Browns quarterback was unhappy with several missed calls by referees on offense:
“Late in the game, might as well forward the fine letter now. We asked the ref on the sideline how the hell he missed that call. They were shoving [receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones] out of bounds and then [receiver Rashard Higgins] gets grabbed, so there’s two PIs in one play. They didn’t call it."
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To his credit, Baker Mayfield wasn't the only Browns player to criticize the referees on this call, and for good reason. The officials did miss a clear defense pass interference call and literally shoved Peoples-Jones out of the play.
8 Cam Newton
In a theme of his career, Cam Newton took some massive hits in a 2017 win over the Arizona Cardinals. In fact, the Carolina Panthers great felt he took too many hits, and that he didn't feel safe considering referees wouldn't call illegal hits against him. He said:
"At times I don’t even feel safe … I just can't keep accepting, ‘Oh we missed that one’ or ‘I apologize for doing that’ or ‘I didn't see it.’ That’s horse crap … When you constantly see the hits, constantly see flags being picked up, and you constantly see flags getting thrown, and to see other quarterbacks getting it, lesser hits, lesser physical hits, then it’s taking the fun for me out.”
Newton had a good reason to be upset. Throughout his career, the Carolina passer took some massive hits that if done to another passer, would've been a penalty. That's the main reason why the quarterback's career was on the decline by his late 20s.
7 Taylor Heinicke
Taylor Heinicke had a reason to be upset after the Washington Commanders lost a controversial game to the New York Giants this season. On third-and-goal during the team's last drive of the game, Terry McLaurin was called for an illegal formation penalty, despite a referee telling him he was lined up fine. Post-game, Heinicke said:
“He gives the thumbs-up to Terry, what the f— is that?"
It's hard to be mad at his comments, as he's completely right to be confused. The play, which later led the team to lose 20-12, saw McLaurin ask the referee if he was lined up correctly, to which, a referee gave him a thumbs up. He then penalized him the second the play started. That's beyond horrifically bad officiating, it seems almost malicious.
6 Clay Matthews
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n""> © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Clay Matthews is a man of principle. Despite not playing in a 2019 game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the-then Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker tweeted:
“The storyline for the 2019 season continues to be the refs inability to make the accurate and correct calls week in and week out. Al Riveron continues to blindly side with his refs and the current status quo. Something must change! Zero accountability."
Clay Matthews was correct in his assessment. That particular game between the Packers and Lions saw the former have multiple scoring drives extended due to penalties. Post-game, the NFL even admitted the penalties were wrong, and the Lions had done nothing wrong.
5 Josh Norman
Josh Norman was very upset after his Washington Commanders played to a 27-27 tie against the Cincinnati Bengals. Post-game, the cornerback, who was penalized five times, stated:
“Who is 88? I just got to know. Who is official 88? He sucked. Just got to be honest with you. I’m going to be straightforward. He was terrible and I feel he like should be reprimanded. I feel like some of the plays that was going on out there ... it was terrible.”
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While referees are terrible from time to time in the NFL, this is the right message from the wrong person. Norman was terrible against the Bengals that day in October 2016. The cornerback spent the majority of the game lined up against A.J. Green, who accounted for nine catches and 121 yards.
4 Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce was understandably upset following a 18-16 playoff defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016. The game came down to the final few plays when Alex Smith tied the game with a two-point conversation. However, a holding call on Eric Fisher caused the play to come back, causing Kelce to say post-game:
“It’s ignorance. The ref, No. 51 shouldn’t be able to wear a zebra jersey ever again. He shouldn’t even be able to work at f–-ing Foot Locker.”
This comment is a bit layered, as Kelce is incorrect that Eric Fisher shouldn't have been called for holding, as it was plain as day. On the other hand, the official he was criticizing was Carl Cheffers, who's considered among the worst refs in the NFL today.
3 A.J. Bouye
Cornerback AJ Bouye was very upset about the Jacksonville Jaguars falling to the New England Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship Game. Following the controversial 24-20 defeat, he said the following a post-game interview:
“I got a question, man. How do you — I looked at the film, I looked at the play on the board, and I see why he would call that with the helmet, but a few plays later you got [Danny] Amendola come headbutt and they don’t call nothing. You got somebody trying to block me right on the snap, but you telling me to watch my hands and I’m trying to get off the block. You just got all this extra stuff, but y’all yet to call nothing on them."
AJ Bouye was correct to complain about the 2017 AFC Championship Game officiating. The game is considered one of the worst officiated high-profile games in recent memory, with the Jaguars taking the brunt of the damage from referees.
2 Chris Jones
© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n""> © Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
The 2020 Super Bowl was a massive disappointment, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the injury-plagued Kansas City Chiefs. Following the 31-9 loss, defensive tackle Chris Jones stated:
“I was very surprised. This is the Super Bowl. Usually you let the guys play, especially in the biggest game of the year. Penalties can change the game.”
On one hand, Chris Jones is correct in that the referees in the game were a bit quick to throw the flag. The Chiefs were penalized 11 times in the game, most coming on defense. While that did have a role, the Buccaneers likely would've won regardless.
1 Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Chase decided to chime in on the officiating in the recent AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. After the wide receiver fell short in the 23-20 defeat, he took to Twitter to say:
"3 3rd and 9 ?"
Ja'Marr Chase's comment comes in reference to a controversial third-quarter moment when the Chiefs got a do-over on third down due to clock issues. While that call, as well as the overall officiating in the game, was poor, the Bengals got the ball back just a few plays later. Blaming that call on the loss seems shortsighted.
