Avast ye mateys, the NFL's Roger Goodell be defendin' the referees penalizin' the scallywag Kadarius Toney for offsides. "Arr, I find it ironic!" he says.
2023-12-14
Arr, Roger Goodell spake of the officiating call from the Chiefs-Bills game. The call didst rile up young Patrick Mahomes, an' it didst erase a glorious touchdown that wouldst have set them ahead.
The referee's decision to call a pre-snap penalty on Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney has caused quite a stir in the NFL. The penalty resulted in the nullification of a potential game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs in their loss to the Buffalo Bills. Both Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid were visibly upset about the call, with Mahomes later apologizing for his outburst. Some Chiefs players and others felt that Toney should have received a pre-snap warning, although it is not required by NFL policy. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the referees, stating that they made the right call and that criticism would have been warranted if they hadn't called the penalty.A postgame pool report from the officials revealed that they do not want to be overly technical when penalizing players for offside violations. However, it was observed that Toney's alignment was over the ball, which warranted a flag according to the pool report. Referee Carl Cheffers stated that players are ultimately responsible for lining up onside and that if Toney had asked, the official could have confirmed he was offside. Cheffers described Toney's alignment as "egregious" and beyond a warning. Goodell reiterated his support for NFL referees, acknowledging that they do an extraordinary job and that technology has increased scrutiny on their calls. He expressed pride in their work and defended their decisions in the game.
Overall, the controversy surrounding the penalty call has sparked debate, with some supporting the referees' decision and others criticizing it. The NFL Commissioner and officials stand by their call, while the Chiefs and their fans are left frustrated with the outcome of the game.