Opinion: NFL, referees have a huge problem with pass interference no-calls
Did you watch any of Sunday's NFL action and wonder what the heck is pass interference, anyways?
If so, you're not alone.
Broncos fans were irate after the referees didn't call pass interference on the final play of their team's loss to the Vikings.
Arizona LB Joe Walker got called for pass interference even though he got tackled by the would-be receiver.
Houston's DeAndre Hopkins called out the league and demanded change after he didn't get a call for what sure looked like defensive pass interference.
Hopkins' coach, Bill O'Brien said after that game: "I have no idea what pass interference is anymore. No idea."
So yeah, this isn't good and you know full well that this type of nonsense is once again going to play a huge part in a playoff game this year … because that's how these things go.
The NFL tried to fix things after last season's debacle in the NFC Championship Game, as they made pass interference calls available for coaches to challenge. For the most part, however, coaches challenge them and the league confirms the call on the field and life goes on.
That makes Hopkins' play on Sunday all the more disappointing -- he was clearly interfered with before the ball got to him, the Texans challenged the no-call, and the no-call somehow stood.
Here is photo evidence:
It's been a brutal year for NFL refs, who are still not full-time employees with the NFL.
When a coach says he has no idea what pass interference is, it's not a good look for the league.
Hopkins called for change, as he wants someone else in the league to look at these challenges. Hopefully the NFL does that and employs someone who can actually see what they're looking at on these reviews, because many of these mistakes are embarrassing.
Change has to happen now, or else what happened in New Orleans last January is only going to happen again.
And the NFL will look foolish when it does happen and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.