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Packers coach Mike McCarthy freaks out at referees after Clay Matthews called for another questionable roughing-the-passer penalty

Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy

Rob Carr/Getty Images

  • Clay Matthews was flagged for roughing the passer on a questionable call for the third straight week.

  • Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was livid with the call and could be seen screaming at the referees after the play.

  • The penalties stem from new rules implemented by the NFL meant to better protect quarterbacks.

 

No player has struggled more with the NFL's new rules intended to protect quarterbacks than Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

In Green Bay's first two games of the season, Matthews has been flagged for roughing the passer on plays that many would consider standard tackles, including a critical call last weekend against the Vikings that helped Minnesota steal a tie from the Packers.

This week, it happened once again. 

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043944728604143616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For the third week in a row Clay Matthews gets called for roughing the passer. #Packers pic.twitter.com/c23sm3lpJF

Seen here, Matthews is just finishing the play, but according to the new rules, it is still a penalty because Matthews landed "with all or most of the defender's weight" on the quarterback.

The NFL was quick to defend the decision on Twitter.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043948315040264192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This is a foul for roughing the passer - the defender lands “with all or most of the defender’s weight” on the passer. Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9(b): https://t.co/s9YKN8NLuT #GBvsWAS pic.twitter.com/ei2QZkvvzx

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was livid and could be seen on the sideline laying into officials about the call.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043945393887809536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
After the Clay Matthews' roughing the passer call for the 3rd week in a row.#Packers coach Mike McCarthy lost it and went after the ref [no contact though]pic.twitter.com/ENqhknk7JW

On Twitter, the general sentiment seemed to be that McCarthy was right to be mad.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043946325975474176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This is roughing the passer, apparently.

Clay Matthews is no longer allowed to sack QBs. pic.twitter.com/Zp09o14gEx Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043944668004663297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Clay Matthews is no longer allowed to sack quarterbacks. It is against the rules. Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043944793355759621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Seriously, Clay Matthews is gonna have to start sacking QBs like this. pic.twitter.com/smN79X3Yay Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1043959950941310976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
How to sack a quarterback in the NFL....wait nvm. pic.twitter.com/EYuOo4qNEq

After the game, Matthews was clear about how he felt after getting called for the third straight game for making what he believed was "a football play."

"Unfortunately this league's going in a direction I think a lot of people don't like. I think they're getting soft," Matthews said. "The only thing hard about this league is the fines they levy down on guys like me who play the game hard."

Regardless of his feelings on the call, it's a new reality of the league as the NFL attempts to do a better job at protecting quarterbacks. Matthews is going to have to make some adjustments soon or be further frustrated by penalties.

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