Arbitration decisions cause frustration in the NFL

NFL defensive players are frustrated by the infractions referees are calling for alleged rough plays against quarterbacks.

And amid the controversy, the question has been raised as to which hits are legal and to what extent referees can go to protect quarterbacks.

Two decisions in Week 5 — one related to Tom Brady — sparked outrage among players, coaches and fans, many of whom are demanding a change. The league plans to discuss these decisions, but that doesn’t mean a change is imminent.

“They’re making everything very difficult for the defensive players,” Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner said Wednesday. “There are certain things you can’t do when you’re in the air. I’ve seen some superheroes do it, but this is not a comic.”

New Orleans defensive end Cam Jordan jokingly floated a solution.

“I’ll bring a blanket with me … and I’ll put it on (the opposing quarterback) before gently laying him down on the field, petting him and singing him a lullaby,” Jordan said. “I do not know. We’re going to have to deal with that, like we have for the last couple of years.”

The controversy began when Grady Jarrett was penalized for knocking down Brady during Sunday’s game, which Tampa Bay won 21-15. A day later, an even stricter arbitration decision came.

Kansas City’s Chris Jones tackled Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr from behind to strip him of the ball. TV replays showed the ball fumbled and was recovered by Jones on a fair play.

But referee Carl Cheffers threw the yellow flag, calling roughing the quarterback.

“I think it’s absolutely crazy,” Jacksonville linebacker Josh Allen said. “More than anything with the Chris Jones thing. It was a fumble sack, even before he (Carr) hit the ground. I think it was a stupid decision. I don’t know who they’re protecting on that play. Did it fall on top of him? It’s a fumble. I can’t explain that play.”

Jones suggested that these penalties be subject to review in the video. That decision would fall to the league’s Competition Committee, made up of six team owners/executives and four coaches.

Teams can also propose rule changes, which require a vote of 24 owners to apply.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he would support the use of replay to clarify whether these infractions actually took place.

“I think it’s a sensible path, because there’s too much inequity about what can be reviewed and challenged or not,” Irsay said. “If that decision in Kansas City had been challenged, they would have changed it every time. It’s not even debatable, so I think that’s where we need to go. Nothing is ever perfect. This sport is very fast and the emphasis is now on safety, as it should be. But you can’t go overboard and ruin this very special sport.”

Despite the complaints, penalties for roughness against the quarterback are down 45% compared to the same time last season. Until week 5 in 2021, 51 of these infractions had been sanctioned. Only 28 have been scored this season, according to league statistics.

A person with direct knowledge of the matter told the AP that the NFL does not plan to change the rules. The issue will come up for discussion next week when NFL owners meet in New York, but the league isn’t looking to be reactionary to a few bad decisions.

In 2019, the league experimented with pass interference reviews and ended up aborting the measure a season later.

Of course, the quarterbacks are not complaining.

“Keep protecting me as much as you can,” Cleveland quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. “As long as they mark something like this in my favor, I accept it. I’m not going to complain about that.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes witnessed one of these controversial decisions affect his team. Still, he understands both versions.

“It’s about protecting ourselves and finding a suitable environment for it, but at the same time we have to allow us to play football,” he said. “This last week was a small window where there were poor decisions on roughness against the passer. But broadly speaking, I think a great job has been done and improvement is being made on this.”

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen warned that the review of these infractions can open the door to sanction others.

“I think there are a lot of variables that go into this,” Allen said. “There are many other things that are marked in a very arbitrary way, personal fouls, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct. One can also talk about undue restraints. It seems to me that there will always be something that is lost and something that is marked or not… These referees do the best they can with the rules… I think that sometimes you just have to play. It’s American football.”

American football is a violent sport. Quarterbacks are the highest paid players and the faces of many of the teams.

NFL rules allow referees to err on the side of caution, seeking to protect quarterbacks. That won’t change, no matter the complaints.

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Arbitration decisions cause frustration in the NFL