Over the years the NFL has made it harder and harder for defensive players to do their jobs and that continued Sunday when the refs in the San Francisco 49ers-New Orleans Saints game made a brutal roughing the passer call against 49ers defensive end Kentavius Street.
Street broke through the offensive line, wrapped up Saints QB Drew Brees and took him to the ground for what looked like a classic sack.
But then a flag was thrown and Street quickly learned he was being punished for doing his job.
Take a look at this play and explain to me how this is roughing the passer:
Well guys… we found it. The worst roughing the passer in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/PTGxVeqV3L
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 15, 2020
Brutal.
The NFL world agreed:
No sense at all. There is literally nothing he can do. He’s getting pushed in the back and still tries to go off to the side https://t.co/X80vcA8G0F
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) November 15, 2020
I don’t know what the SF defender could possibly have done. He’s rushing Brees, his momentum carries him into the QB (which is his goal) they collide with an OL and fall down.
Flag. 15.
If that’s forbidden, why even rush the passer?
(Saints fans – this isn’t team specific)
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) November 15, 2020
Kentavius Street did absolutely nothing wrong on that sack. He didn't make contact to the head, wrapped up and rolled off to the side rather than falling on Brees. He should not have been flagged there. #49ers
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2020
What a completely bush league roughing call on a normal sack of Drew Brees. This isn’t how refs should be calling a game. This is not flag football, it’s actually tackle football. Clean hit by 49ers. Weak ass garbage call!
— Sean Salisbury (@SeanUnfiltered) November 15, 2020
If that's Drew Stanton, not Drew Brees, it's a sack. Star QBs get the craziest calls. https://t.co/RSAsMkPI4Q
— Justin Hathaway (@NFLNewshound) November 15, 2020
Awesome job by these #NFL referees to flag the #49ers for a textbook sack on Drew Brees because it’s Drew Brees. 🙄
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) November 15, 2020
Unacceptable. Hold this official accountable https://t.co/PsgaW5nhup
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) November 15, 2020
And again….A good form-tackle sack on Brees…Roughing the passer on the defensive tackle…🤦🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️. #garbage @NFL @NFLonFOX
— Kedrick Storey (@KStoreyWTVA) November 15, 2020
Omg! A 49er sack on Brees is called roughing the passer! You have got to be kidding me. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but that is one of many many things wrong with the @nfl
— not real sure (@cpmolsbee) November 15, 2020