Perhaps veteran referee Ron Torbert was inspired by Clete Blakeman’s need for face time in Thursday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks. Perhaps he was bored by his assignment — a game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Jets. We would understand the second motivation. But this stretch of penalties in that game was… a bit extreme.
Jets-Falcons just featured 6 penalties in 8 plays.
TORBERT! pic.twitter.com/OnfBoIpU5A
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 3, 2023
We’re not going to make you sit through every one of Torbert’s calls, but let’s just say that they were highly suspect.
Jets called for an illegal block here… #ATLvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/5SsmG0wlHd
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 3, 2023
#Jets player DJ Reed gets called for a personal foul here…. #ATLvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/piGlmohBhW
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 3, 2023
DJ Reed gets called for illegal contact here and it takes away an interception… #ATLvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/SISGn0CGMu
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 3, 2023
Perhaps the NFL should start penalizing officials if they call more than a certain number of penalties, because this is getting utterly out of hand. The game ain’t about you, stripes…