We mentioned this morning the referee crew that would be on hand for the Eagles-Falcons game at The Linc today. It was Craig Wrolstad and his crew – coming off a bye week – who also have the third-fewest penalties called per game in the NFL.
While the game started out fine, they found themselves under more scrutiny as the game progressed – especially in the second half. They missed this helmet-to-helmet hit on Jordan Matthews, in which he needed to actually get a new facemask attached to his helmet due to the hit. Not sure how the referees missed that, and, honestly, neither is Matthews. He spoke about them refs after the game.
“My helmet was bent. I had to get a new facemask – they had to change my facemask and my visor. I don’t know what they saw … They didn’t talk to me at all. They didn’t see much that game so they probably didn’t see me over there … I could feel my lip bleeding, like, there’s no way this guy just hit me in my face, I must be trippin’, but I’m pretty sure I just got smacked in the face.”
Watch his postgame comments below.
Jordan Matthews told me the refs weren’t even watching this game. Said they must’ve been thinking about going to Chickies and Petes
— Jamie Apody (@JamieApody) November 13, 2016
Doug Pederson wasn’t happy, either. Though, it kind of humors me how he yells it’s horseshit and then plays nice guy trying to get hold his players and coaches back. Oh, Doug.