NEWSLETTER
Given the bountiful attention the league was getting for its officials’ abysmal performance in a nationally-televised game, they were obviously going to have to respond publicly about the egregiously terrible taunting penalty called on Bears linebacker Cassius Marsh, and his claim that the official thereafter intentionally “hip-checked” him.
The official party line from the NFL? Good penalty call and no hip-check. Big freaking surprise:
The league does not give credence to Cassius Marsh’s accusation that referee Tony Corrente intentionally hip-checked him as Marsh moved past the referee toward the Bears’ sideline. Asked if the NFL considers that allegation legitimate, source says: “No.” https://t.co/KMt2CogNlx
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) November 9, 2021
The NFL’s official position is that the taunting call, which may have cost the Bears the game, was a good one because Marsh “gestured toward the sideline and opponent,” even though that quite clearly didn’t actually happen. He stood there. That was it. Marsh stood in place for a couple extra seconds, facing the opposing sideline some 40 yards away.
This was just called taunting. The officiating in the NFL continues to be a disaster. This entire game has been pathetic. pic.twitter.com/08UgyGyhJC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 9, 2021
Even if that were the “definition” of taunting, then you need to revise your terrible definition.
As for the official jutting himself out to bump into Marsh, I mean, the video is the video. It doesn’t have to be a thing where we claim he was angry and did it on purpose. It could’ve just been a momentary reaction to an approaching player and while trying (unnecessarily) to brace himself, the official actually was the one who initiated contact. That seems like a great explanation to me. But acting like it didn’t happen is some galaxy brain stuff when there is VIDEO:
On the taunting penalty, Cassius Marsh says he was hip checked by referee Tony Corrente. He watched the video and called it, “Incredibly inappropriate.”
Corrente said he was unaware the contact occurred.pic.twitter.com/4SFCIEhPow
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 9, 2021
