The United States Constitution allows for free speech and expressions of opinions; however, when it comes to members of the National Football League, that very same free speech is forbidden!  Over the past few seasons, there have been numerous occasions where the officiating has been called into question.  Not a week goes by that there is not some controversial call during the course of the game.

The officials are graded on their performances; however, it does not appear to make any difference when officials are assigned to games, since the same officials return week after week to make the same calls…and in the eyes of some fans, help to “throw” the games.

At the end of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills on December 9, the Chiefs were assessed an offsides penalty that ended up costing the Chiefs the game.

Both Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes expressed their displeasure over the call.

On December 16 both Reid and Mahomes were fined by the NFL for their remarks.  Reid was fined $100,000 for his criticizing the officials publicly and Mahomes was fined $50,000 for his “unsportsmanlike conduct for abusive, threatening, or insulting language to officials”.

Vehemently expressing his displeasure over the outcome of the game Mahomes said, “I know as fans you want to see the guys on the field decide the game and that’s why last week I didn’t say anything about the flag that didn’t get called on Marquez (Valdes-Scantling. I mean they’re human, they make mistakes, but it’s every week we’re talking about something and all I can do is go out there and give everything I have and I’m proud of the guys, that’s what we did and it was a great football game that ended — another great football game that just ended like that it’s just tough — tough to swallow.”

While less vehement in his “criticism” Reid noted that “normally” he receives a warning when a player is offside before receiving a penalty; adding that the situation was “a bit embarrassing.”

Later in the week bot Reid and Mahomes backed off of their criticism; saying that they needed to “show better sportsmanship”.

Apparently blind to the season long controversy over calls, when asked about the state of the officiating, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “I find it a little ironic when you say attention on officiating when I think almost everybody, to my knowledge, is acknowledging that the officials were absolutely correct.  That’s their job to call when there’s a foul. There was no question about that foul. It was absolutely the right call. If you don’t call that, obviously we would’ve been subject or our officials would’ve been subject to criticism also.

Goodell added, “we all understand our officials are second guessed. I’ve said it many times before, they are not perfect. No human being is. But the reality is they do an extraordinary job. As I said, I find it ironic that I’m standing here answering a question about the officials got it right, and they’re being criticized. I think it shows you how difficult it is to do their job. I understand that and understand it comes with the job. The officials understand that, but I’m incredibly proud of — not just what they did in that game, but also what they continue to do.”

The call itself has been questioned less than the timing of the call. An offside penalty is a PRE PLAY call, but the flag was not thrown until after the play had begun, allowing the play to work its way through where the Chiefs had scored a touchdown.  And allowing the conspiracy theorists to call for a biased game.