NFL isn't concerned by stars' continued officiating criticisms – but maybe it should be

IRVING, Texas – Roger Goodell was struck by the irony.

This week’s big officiating crisis flows from the episode at the end of the Buffalo Bills’ victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, which ignited MVP Patrick Mahomes like something awful.

"I find it ironic that I’m sitting here answering questions about the officials got it right, and they’re being criticized," the NFL commissioner said as league meetings wrapped up on Wednesday. "I think it shows how difficult it is for them to do their job."

Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, went ballistic after a would-be, go-ahead touchdown was wiped out by a penalty – wide receiver Kadarius Toney lined up offsides – and in the aftermath blasted the crew headed by referee Carl Cheffers.

While Mahomes has since expressed regret, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid walked back on his postgame criticism, the furor only added to a tsunami of criticism of NFL officiating that has intensified in recent weeks.

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While Goodell was correct in pointing out the irony of the Chiefs’ gripes, the optics of having one of the NFL’s biggest stars openly question the credibility of officiating should represent a concern, as Mahomes is hardly the only high-profile player who has gone off on officiating.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, arguably the front-runner to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, called the officiating a “travesty” following a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Garrett maintained that officials allowed blockers to consistently cross the line with infractions that were ignored.

"I mean, respect to those guys, it’s a hard job, but hell, we have a hard job as well,' Garrett said during his postgame news conference. "You can’t make it harder by throwing holding and hands to the face out the rulebook. And like I said, I got a lot of respect for those guys, but we get scrutinized for the plays that we don’t make. So, someone has to hold them accountable for the plays or the calls they don’t make. And they need to be under the same kind of microscope as we are every single play."

Garrett’s remarks came a week after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt suggested that blatant holding calls against him were so consistently ignored during a loss against the Arizona Cardinals that he felt the league had a vendetta against him.

Similarly, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons said apparently missed holding calls were “comical” after a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

Asked about the wave of criticism coming from high-profile players, Goodell didn’t dare bite back.

"We understand," he said. "That’s not new. We get that. And it’s frustrating. You know how hard the players are playing, you know how hard the coaches are coaching. We know how much the fans put in with passion. So, we want to get it right."

The scrutiny on officials never lets up. Nor does the league’s defense. Of course, the criticism comes from all corners, including broadcasters (hello, Troy Aikman) and fans on social media.

Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, isn’t ready to push the panic button. But the noise has to strike a nerve.

"You’ve got half the teams that win on the week, ‘The officiating was good,’ " Vincent said. "The other half that loses, you don’t like officiating. That’s the reality of our game."

Vincent, who oversees the officiating, stressed that he is hardly content. He mentioned consistency from crew to crew – a common criticism – is a key quality control emphasis. Yet he also refused to declare that the heat is any worse this season – though others have argued otherwise.

"We’re at that time of year," Vincent said. "This happens every year."

It’s Vincent who is often the league’s point man in fielding calls from angry coaches, general managers and owners who call in with complaints.

"Sometimes I have to put on the hat," he said. "I call it ‘Misery Monday.’ "

Despite the scrutiny, there’s no apparent appetite for a major overhaul. At least not that this point.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for instance, pushed back on the frequent suggestion about employing full-time officials.

"I'm satisfied with the way we attempt to have a fair game," Jones told reporters.

After all, NFL revenues and TV ratings continue to soar.