Steelers Diontae Johnson Slams Referees For Loss Against Jaguars

During Sunday’s 20-10 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett sustained a rib injury on a play that looked like it should have been called as roughing the passer. But when asked about it after the game, wide receiver Diontae Johnson didn’t hold back on the officials—no penalty was called.

Steelers Diontae Johnson Slams Referees For Loss Against Jaguars

Johnson was especially dissatisfied with the refereeing, saying that his team lost the game because of blatant anti-Steelers prejudice. When questioned particularly about the roughing-the-passer penalties and the offsides penalty that saved a possibly game-winning field goal attempt prior to halftime, he stated he noticed a pattern throughout the contest.

“They wanted them to win,” he told reporters. “They were calling… everything was in their favour. Every little call. But it is what it is. I’m moving on from it.”

Still, Johnson wasn’t done.

“Refs was killing us the whole game,” he continued. “… At the end of the day, we can’t keep complaining about the refs. Like coach [Mike Tomlin] said, we can’t worry about the refs. But everybody’s different. I don’t know, I didn’t like the refs today. They must have gotten paid well today or something.”

Johnson described the field goal penalty as especially painful. Chris Boswell attempted to go 55 yards but was declared offsides by Isaac Seumalo, forcing him to attempt 61 yards, which he missed. The Steelers would have been within three points at halftime with a make.

The Steelers would have had a chance to tie the game on their final drive of the game, but they were behind by two scores instead, if the game proceeds as expected after halftime.

Although referees cannot be expected to be flawless, players and coaches do often demand consistency, which is where the Steelers may have a complaint regarding Sunday’s game. This is the play in which there was no roughing call and Pickett was hurt.

Lately, with the emphasis on protecting quarterbacks and preventing defensive linemen from landing full-body hits on them during sacks, roughing penalties have come up for discussion.

This has left many in the NFL, including players and coaches in certain situations, perplexed about the precise definition of roughing the passer.

 

 

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