NFL Slipping in Unbiased Enforcement

So during the Ravens/Patriots game this Sunday, Tom Brady was hit  below the knees by Terrell Suggs after he released the ball, and the officials called roughing the passer on Suggs.  If you watch the replay, it appears as though Suggs was not fully in control of his body as the hit took place, in fact it looked more like he fell into Brady than went for a below the knee shot.  Regardless, as with most calls in the NFL, roughing the passer relies greatly on the officials judgment.  In this case, it was called, causing both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to call the officiating “embarrassing” among other things in their post-game interviews.  You may or may not be aware, but you cannot disparage NFL Officials publicly without getting fined.

Well not in this case, both Lewis and Reed are getting away with no fines. I am not saying that their comments deserve fines.  I am also not saying that the official made the right call, that could have been a no-call on roughing the passer.  What I am saying is that it seems as though the NFL is getting less and less uniform in their enforcement of rules.  If you cannot speak ill of officiating after a game without a fine, do not make exceptions.

This is not the only aspect where the NFL seems to be playing favorites. Flacco got flattened quite a few times in the game, some that could also be considered roughing the passer. If Brady, Peyton Manning, Favre, etc. are getting every remotely possible roughing the passer call, so should the Flaccos, Rosenfels, Edwards, and Schaubs of the league.  If Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are not going to be fined for their comments, neither should the TO’s, Ochocinco’s, etc. of the league.