Aaron Rodgers blasts ‘ridiculous’ penalties after ‘MNF’ loss

While the Buffalo Bills won Week 6’s Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets, the stars of the game might have been the officials, who got a lot of air time. Between the two teams, there were 22 accepted penalties for 204 yards.

Following the game, New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about the penalties. He did not hide his frustration in the calls, nor was he shy about criticizing calls that benefited his team.

“It seemed a little ridiculous. Some of them seemed really bad – including the roughing the passer on me. That’s not roughing the passer. Might as well play Sarcastaball if we’re gonna call those things,” Rodgers said referencing a South Park episode.

“And I thought the one on Kinlaw was not roughing the passer either.”

Rodgers was also asked about his team’s missed red zone opportunities. Part of his answer included Braelon Allen touchdown, called back by what the quarterback dubbed a “phantom holding call.”

Aaron Rodgers’ comments about the penalties on MNF included:
– Saying the roughing the passer on him was not roughing the passer.
– Saying the roughing the passer called on Javon Kinlaw was not roughing the passer.
– Saying a penalty was called off on a “phantom holding call.” pic.twitter.com/UYfER3LQ0k

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2024

Rodgers was not the only person to note the abundance of penalties. After a play which saw both teams called for penalties, ESPN analyst Troy Aikman said “It’s like a preseason game.”

Aikman later conceded that he thought both penalties were correctly called.

Troy Aikman: It’s like a preseason game.

Aikman later: I guess they gotta throw the flag, don’t they? It’s easy to get upset with the officials. But those were penalties. pic.twitter.com/pTGw59WTQo

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2024

Certainly, the officials have to walk a fine line. They have to call the game by the rules. But at the same time, it’s hard to imagine that anyone who watched Monday’s game came away happy to see 22 (accepted) penalties get called.

[Photo Credit: ESPN]