Eye Doctors Offer Free Eye Exams for NFL Referees After Multiple Blown Calls in the NFL Playoffs
Championship Sunday had quite a bit of intrigue as both games went into overtime. Unfortunately for the NFL, the games also featured quite a bit of controversy as well.
Much of the discussion has been focused on the referees missing a crucial pass interference call on Los Angeles Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman as he laid out New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. Robey-Coleman did not turn his head around to make a play on the ball and sent Lewis flying into the air, well before the ball reached the Saints WR. The play also featured a helmet to helmet hit on a WR but the NFL referees decided not to throw a penalty flag for either infraction.
Even Robey-Coleman admitted to blatantly interfering with Lewis.
"Ah, hell yeah, that was PI," Robey-Coleman said in L.A.'s victorious locker room, co-signing what the rest of America already knew and what Sean Payton said the NFL had even admitted — he'd committed pass interference and gotten away with it.
"I did my part," Robey-Coleman said with a smile. "Referee made the call. We respect it." (quotes via USA Today)
The Rams were also slighted by the referees on a few occasions, particularly when quarterback Jared Goff's helmet was completely twisted around but did not earn a facemask penalty.
Clear missed facemask on Jared Goff’s scramble pic.twitter.com/WQVLP16TPp
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 20, 2019
The second game of the day between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs also featured a handful of questionable calls. There was the question of whether or not the ball touched Julian Edelman on a punt return, a "roughing the passer" call against the Chiefs and numerous pass interference calls (and non-calls) that were questionable at best.
Closer look at the Julian Edelman "muff" punt, he really didn't touch it. pic.twitter.com/O8MT49DmwB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 21, 2019
This brutally violent act by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones on Tom Brady drew a roughing the passer penalty. There’s simply no room in the sport for such gruesome violence. Please do not allow small children to watch this video. #NEvsKC pic.twitter.com/WlHo0ICbM1
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) January 21, 2019
To help the NFL referees, several eye doctors have offered free eye exams.
"After having time to consider things we will GLADLY provide no cost eye exams to all NFL officials prior to next season to prevent the atrocity that occurred tonight. We would hate for someone else to feel our pain," Louisiana Family Eyecare posted.
Crystal Vision Center also offered free eye exams to the NFL referees following the Rams-Saints game.
In light of the atrocious lack of calls during the New Orleans Saints game we would like to extend free eye exams and glasses to any NFL referee in need.
— CrystalVisionCenter (@CrystalVisionCS) January 21, 2019
You know who you are.
"In light of the atrocious lack of calls during the New Orleans Saints game we would like to extend free eye exams and glasses to any NFL referee in need. You know who you are," Crystal Vision Center wrote.
It's a shame that NFL fans will be discussing errors made by the officiating crews instead of the stellar play on the field by all four teams. Instead of celebrating two classic championship games, the NFL now finds itself in a firestorm of bad PR. Many have called for the NFL to review the replay rules, allowing critical penalties such as pass interference and others to become reviewable.
The NFL has two weeks without a game to deal with the backlash but league officials aren't likely to make any major announcements anytime soon.
H/t Fox 32 Chicago
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