Sports
“Must’ve Got Paid Good Today”: NFL Team Slams Refs After Awful Call, Player Suggests League is Rigged
"NFL Referee" by All-Pro Reels is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 
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Clear Facts
- The Pittsburgh Steelers feel wronged by referees after a questionable offsides call nullified a field goal.
- Referee Alan Eck’s decision on right guard Isaac Seumalo left many baffled.
- Steelers’ Diontae Johnson suggests bias, implying referees might have been influenced in their decision-making.
The NFL has come under fire once again, with its officiating taking center stage. In the latest in a string of controversial referee decisions, the Pittsburgh Steelers are crying foul – and some are even implying the NFL may be rigged.
During the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Steelers’ kicker Chris Boswell’s 55-yard field goal was negated by what many are deeming a “phantom offsides call.”
Here is the post halftime look by CBS at the Steelers penalty on the FG that was flagged for offsides on Isaac Seumalo #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/QLPgDWvxez
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 29, 2023
The referees for the Jaguars at Steelers game need to be investigated.
— PICKETT 2 PICKENS SZN (@Gaige_Rage) October 29, 2023
This successful 56 yd field goal was cancelled AFTER the kick went thru due to an offsides penalty.
I've now seen 10 different angles and not one was anyone on the steelers offsides.
Prove me wrong. Please pic.twitter.com/kpvGrfkRnX
Instead of penalizing the defense, referee Alan Eck surprisingly flagged Pittsburgh’s right guard Isaac Seumalo.
The sudden decision left fans and players alike scratching their heads, including Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
#Steelers HC Mike Tomlin immediately after the offsides penalty on Chris Boswell's 55-yard FG at the end of the half:
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) October 29, 2023
"What the f**k is wrong with y'all today? What the f**k is wrong with y'all today?"
Officiating was atrocious. pic.twitter.com/dwSKXVmjZW
I’ve never seen that in 17 years#Steelers Mike Tomlin on offsides call wiping out made field goal pic.twitter.com/M6HN5sO4Ai
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) October 29, 2023
In response to the baffling call, Seumalo quipped, “Obviously the referees saw something different. I’m sure in a couple of days we will get a nice little apology. That will warm my heart.”
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell also addressed the questionable call on social media:
Chris Boswell on his Instagram story. 👀 pic.twitter.com/K5wE7H25gh
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) October 29, 2023
Yet it was wide receiver Diontae Johnson who turned up the heat with his candid thoughts.
“I didn’t like the refs today. They must’ve gotten paid good today,” Johnson asserted, indicating a possible bias in the referee’s judgment. He further claimed, “The referees cost us the game. They wanted [the Jaguars] to win.”
For context, here are Diontae Johnson’s critical comments on the officiating in today’s #Steelers loss to the #Jaguars.
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) October 29, 2023
Said refs “must’ve got paid good today,” among other remarks. pic.twitter.com/unwSFg3yP1
Week after week, the integrity of the game comes into question with such dubious calls. The Steelers, feeling they were the latest victims of this ongoing issue, join a chorus of teams and fans demanding more accountability from NFL officiating.
Clear Thoughts
As steadfast defenders of truth and justice in America, we’ve long emphasized the need for transparency, fairness, and integrity in every domain – be it politics, education, or even sports.
It seems like every week in the NFL, controversy surrounds the referees and their questionable calls.
The recent fiasco involving the Pittsburgh Steelers and the questionable officiating call during their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars serves as yet another stark reminder that something is amiss in our beloved national pastime.
The “phantom offsides call” against the Steelers isn’t just about one game, one team, or one wronged player. It’s symbolic of a creeping decline in standards that seems to be permeating our culture.
When a wide receiver like Diontae Johnson feels compelled to suggest that referees might have been “paid good today,” we must ask: How did we get here?
The NFL, an iconic institution representing America’s game, should be above reproach. Yet, as seen with the Steelers, its credibility is at stake.
Calls for transparency aren’t about undermining the sport; they’re about preserving its integrity for future generations of fans and players.
The time has come for the NFL to step up. Clear, unbiased officiating is not just a wish – it’s a demand. The league must address these concerns head-on, ensuring that every team, player, and fan knows that every game’s outcome is decided on the field, not in the shadows.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Buckshot Bill
November 2, 2023 at 10:55 pm
It’s been like this for the last couple of years. The refs have been deciding who wins and who loses. Last year they picked K.C to be the winner and by the calls and plays that was overturned. I stopped watching this next style of WWE. I wonder who they have in the outside making the bets and collecting the money after the bets paid off at casinos and sports book
Oarie Lemanski
November 3, 2023 at 7:31 am
All refs calls should be reviewed by the coaches if they want to challenge it.
Mark Watson
November 4, 2023 at 7:37 am
To author Christian Ramirez: Groups and individuals in America constantly past judgment on the men and women who make split second decisions. Whether it’s referees, doctors, or police officers the Monday morning quarterbacks comment that they could do it better. It’s so self righteous to review slow motion footage a multitude of times then say the referee or police officer got it wrong. Perfection is expected out of human beings who are not perfect. By the way America’s national pastime is baseball not football. You see anyone can be wrong and your opinion was not made in a split second.
William Burke
December 16, 2023 at 6:20 pm
When a doctor’s misjudgement results in injury or death of a patient, there is a remedy: the malpractice suit. There is no such recompence. Shouldn’t there be the same for a sport on which billions of dollars are bet every week? Whether of not you approved of sports wagering, it’s a part of our economy.
If your bank unfairly charged you overdraft fees when you didn’t overdraw your balance, would your outrage fairly be termed “self-righteous”? Be honest, now!