Careful with that fight, Mike McCarthy: It might be unnecessary roughness.
A third week of football, a third week of a controversial roughing-the-passer call on Clay Matthews, as the outside linebacker took down Alex Smith in the third quarter for what, in normal years, would be a sack. This year, it is yet again a penalty in a game in which Washington led Green Bay, 28-17.
The officials did not explain why the flag was thrown, but it appeared to be an instance in which Matthews landed all his weight on Smith, a new tweak this year to further protect quarterbacks. After last week’s version of the call, Matthews flipped out and called it “unbelievable.” This week, it was McCarthy doing the flipping out.
The Packers head coach had to be separated from an official by another official, chasing him up the sideline to further scream in his face.
On Fox, NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino said he disagreed with the call.
“I don’t like that as a foul. I really don’t,” Blandino said, via Pro Football Talk.