(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Richard Sherman thinks something smells fishy.
For the second time this season, a non-call was changed to defensive pass interference on Sherman following a coaches challenge. This particular play happened on the Cardinals’ first drive, and resulted in 41 yards for Arizona, placing the ball at the 49ers’ three yard line.
Why is this interesting according to Sherman? To that point, coaches had lost 32 of their past 33 pass interference challenges, dating back to the start of Week 4. That’s a 3.0% success rate. Since Week 3, they are 2-for-41 (4.9%), via ESPN.
Before Sunday’s game, Sherman had been called for just three penalties all season. He was called for three in the first half vs. Arizona.
“I thought it was interesting, I thought it was really interesting,” Sherman said after the 36-26 win. “I had three penalties on the season coming into this game, and to get three in a half is really interesting, especially considering with the way the reversals have gone. I think there’s been over 100 PI challenges this year and there’s been five I think reversals and I’m two of them.
Sherman then heavily implied that his presence on the league’s Executive Committee — which includes representatives from each team, that decides on in game rules league policy or club ownership — played a part.
“I think being an (Executive Committee) member and part of that committee has its perks and it has its conversations where you’re the only one who gets overturned. You’ll deal with that in this league. I’ve been here long enough to understand they call the game like that sometimes and you’ve just got to overcome.”
What exactly Sherman means here is unclear, but it certainly sounds conspiratorial.
Longtime NFL head coach Tony Dungy also thought the call being overturned was questionable.
NFL Office just overturned a non Pass Interference call on Richard Sherman. After all the calls they’ve let stand today how can this one get reversed? I know I’m on a soap box but this is not fair to anyone.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) November 17, 2019
Here’s the play in question. You be the judge:
Richard Sherman basically tackling Christian Kirk while the ball simultaneously bounces off his helmet is amusing. pic.twitter.com/upYhnJxVyB
— Jake Montero (@jakemmontero) November 18, 2019
