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Most of the time, when someone compares a person to Michael Jordan, it’s meant to flatter.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, however, found a way to do that without implying greatness, when he said in an interview with Gregg Bell of the News Tribune that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the Michael Jordan of the NFL in terms of getting favorable calls from game officials.
Avril’s reaction came after the Seahawks absorbed a 17-9 loss in Green Bay on Sunday, during which Avril was called for an illegal-block penalty upon contact with Rodgers in the first quarter of the contest.
“Yeah, I bet they threw it as soon as I touched him. I guaranteed they threw a flag. But that stopped us from scoring…He is A-Rod. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league…
“That was crazy.
“But some guys get the ‘Michael Jordan Rule.’”
In the NBA, it has been often observed that superstars get longer leashes in terms of getting called for infractions by officials. Conversely, the same players have the penchant for easily coaxing referees into blowing their whistles to call fouls on these stars’ defenders.
Avril’s take is an interesting one not only because he was able to bring up Jordan’s name in a football discussion, but because it gives us the idea that such things actually happen in the NFL – referees treating players differently according to their statuses in the league.
