New York Jets defensive tackle Khalen Saunders isn’t happy.
In the middle of the Week 15 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saunders was disqualified from the game because of an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Now, typically, for a player to get ejected, they must be hit with two unsportsmanlike penalties in the same game to merit a disqualification. However, there are exceptions to all rules. One of those includes putting your hands on a ref.
Saunders was accused of doing just that, and he took to social media to share his displeasure with that decision.
“7 years, no ejections, no unsportsmanlike conducts, i think maybe one Unnecessary roughness for a tackle right at the whistle in a preseason game. Surrounded by opponents, fending folks off me, and here i am “striking an official” lmao gtfo. Do better. @NFL @NFLOfficiating,” Saunders posted on X previously Twitter.
In addition to Saunders’ words, he also shared an 18-second video clip of the incident in question.
Dennis Waszak Jr of the Associated Press responded to the post, saying, “Khalen Saunders has a point here. It’s also what I thought when I saw the replay after the ejection.”
Questionable Officiating Played a Key Piece in Week 15
Let’s start by saying the Jets got their barn doors blown off by the Jaguars.
They lost 48-20. A four-touchdown defeat. It was their sixth loss of the season by multiple scores.
However, this game had a chance to be a lot closer.
With 9:55 remaining in the second quarter, the Jets were down 21-7 versus the Jags. Wide receiver and return specialist Isaiah Williams appeared to take a punt return 49 yards to the house.
That touchdown would have made it a one-score game: 21-14. However, there was a penalty that nullified the return. The officials threw a flag for “unsportsmanlike conduct.” The penalty is really about blocking a player out of bounds and not allowing them to return to the field of play.
That would have gotten the Jets back into the game. It would have been Williams’ third punt return touchdown of the season. Instead, the team ends up kicking a field goal on the drive.
The NFL on CBS television analyst Ross Tucker said, “Aw man, that’s what they called? Looked like he got back in bounds.”
A Serious Case of Déjà Vu
One of the big reasons the Jets lost is that their defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. Trevor Lawrence had a game for the ages, and the Jets’ defense had no answers.
Lawrence became the only player in NFL history to finish a game with five passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, and over 50 yards on the ground.
As the Jets were getting pummeled, fans couldn’t help but think back to that 2020 season, where they finished 2-14. The Jets won two meaningless games late in the year that took them out of the running for the top pick.
Instead, Jacksonville got the No. 1 overall pick and used it on Lawrence. The Jets ended up with Zach Wilson, who is now on his third team in three years.
The football Gods can be cruel.
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