The NFL plans to discuss – but not change – ‘roughing the passer’ penalties, a source has told the Associated Press; former NFL quarterback Chris Simms: “They’re ruining the sport. Every week right now we’re seeing plays that dictate football games… and ‘Johnny Referee’ steps in”
Last Updated: 12/10/22 4:34pm
‘Roughing the passer’ penalty calls have become a hot topic in the NFL after multiple instances in Week Five games, including two calls in particular that have come in for criticism – one involving 45-year-old, seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Protecting quarterbacks is a priority for the NFL, whose owners pay big money to the players who represent the face of their franchise. Twenty-five QBs are making at least $25 million this season.
As a result, roughing the passer penalties are called when an on-field official deems a defensive player to have made illegal contact with the quarterback. The NFL rulebook also notes: “When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the referee should always call roughing the passer.”
Per NFL Research, there have been 27 flags for roughing the passer though the first five weeks of the 2022 season, with 25 accepted. In 2021, there were 51 called and 48 accepted by the same stage.
The numbers might be down, but the two controversial flags from this week have brought roughing the passer calls under the microscope again.
Jarrett left ‘clueless’ by Brady penalty
On Sunday, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was flagged for a seemingly harmless sack on Brady. Jarrett’s tackled should have forced a fourth down and allowed Atlanta to get the ball back with just under three minutes remaining. Instead, the penalty gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a fresh set of downs and allowed them to run out the clock on their way to a 21-15 victory.
Jarrett said on Tuesday: “Just looking back on it, I’m still kind of left clueless on what I’m expected to do in that situation.
“I’m not saying that it cost us the game, but it cost us an opportunity to win the game and if it’s costing people games, it’s going to cost people livelihoods, going to cost people opportunities.
“Obviously this happened to us, the Falcons, but forget all that, it’s about the sport. People watch us to be entertained and then when you do it the right way, that’s what makes it so frustrating, because you did follow the rules and you didn’t do anything bad.
“Let’s give the game what the game is owed, and that’s the best product we can put on the field.”