NFL referees have not exactly built a great reputation. Whether it's fans, media members, players or coaches, officiating has been a hot topic of discussion for some time now, and whenever people are discussing the officiating, that's never a good thing.
The latest incident came during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, when the Buccaneers were robbed of what should have been a fumble recovery that they returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter because an official blew the whistle before it occurred.
Tampa Bay ended up losing 27-23, so, obviously, that call may very well have cost the Bucs a win, and as you might expect, head coach Bruce Arians was none too pleased after the game:
“Everybody except one guy saw the ball out, blew a quick whistle,” Arians said, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “My biggest thing is referees aren’t held accountable. Coaches get fired, general managers get fired, players get cut. Referees aren’t accountable. And it’s a shame. It’s been there 40 years and now we’ve got a new agreement and it’ll be that way for 40 more years.”
Arians has a point. If coaches, players and executives can get reprimanded and lose their jobs for their mistakes, then why can't the same thing be done for officials?
“If we had those last three minutes and some change with a three-point lead and win the game, I think everybody is writing different stories, talking different things,” Arians said.
Unfortunately, we will never know, and that's a shame, because in a short NFL season, every game—and every play—counts.
The Buccaneers fell to 2-5 with the loss.
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