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On Sunday, the game-winning touchdown drive for the Indianapolis Colts was saved by a penalty imposed on Chiefs defenseman Chris Jones for saying something to Indianapolis quarterback Matt Ryan after a third-down sack. Two days later nobody says what Jones said.
Referee Shawn Smith declined to disclose the allegedly offensive language to pool reporter Adam Teicher after the game. Smith said Jones’ specific comment would be added to the official match report.
The official match report for the league has been submitted. However, neither the league office nor anyone else is commenting on what Jones allegedly said.
If the league wants anyone to believe the call was legitimate, transparency is required. The lack of transparency either suggests it really wasn’t bad enough to draw a flag — or it was bad enough that no one wants to repeat it.
“I know there will be talk during games,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters Monday. “The best advice I can give is not to talk.”
That’s easier said than done. As Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said Sunday night, all sorts of things are said on the football field. If every instance of “offensive language” drew a flag, the games would never end.
A few years ago, the league made a push to remove racial slurs from the field. Former defenseman Richard Sherman has been vocal in his opposition to the league’s crackdown on things said during games when the league decided to monitor certain words.
Regardless, what Jones said must be known. Smith either overreacted and affected the outcome of a game, or he correctly responded to Jones when he affected the outcome of a game.