Is there any truth to Puka Nacua’s comment on NFL refs?
Yahoo Sports host Andrew Siciliano, senior NFL reporter Jori Epstein and betting analyst Ben Fawkes react to Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua 's comments on NFL referees. Check out the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
There are two kinds of interesting, ironic truths in what Puka was saying.
The first in his whole line about their normal people.
They're lawyers.
Like, we all should not be OK with this.
That the NFL has yet to invest in their officiating sufficiently to the point that These people have full-time jobs working in the NFL.
Everyone is mad at the officials.
I continue to maintain that this is a system.
Problem, not an official's problem.
There was one time I wanted to talk to Official.
After a controversial call in the game, I looked him up on LinkedIn.
And he worked at JPMorgan.
He was like wealth management during the week, Official on the weekends, and it's like, yes, we should do that.
The other thing I always wonder about from a psychological standpoint.
Going back to the whole, like, they're normal people.
If you, as an official, are called out for, hey, you're not getting enough DPIs on me, Or you're not calling Micah Parsons for holding, I've always wondered, Like, when Micah Parsons and everyone around him says, He's not getting called for holding.
Do the officials then hear that and say, "Oh, well, we should try and counter that stereotype?"
We should try to counter the fact that we're biased toward the Chiefs.
I don't think this will impact the Rams significantly on Thursday night, But I am curious, is this more of a, hey, we're harsher on him because he criticized us?
We're lighter on him because we don't want to validate his criticism.
Or, hey, going back to the fact that they have two jobs, They're not actually listening.
Uh, theyhold on, but before you jump in, I, I, so, they are normal, They are human beings, right?
And human beings have bias, no matter how much you try to toe the line and do your job Professionally.
And, I truly do believe every NFL Official tries to do his job to the best of his ability in the moment.
It is a fast and difficult game to officiate.
Um, human beings make mistakes.
Human beings do sometimes get affected by the crowd, the atmosphere, or previous comments.
Like you said, Joy, right?
They do get affected by pregame conversations.
Thats why coaches go out there before a game.
Hey, so I noticed something on tape last week about the other team.
When they run this, you know, sometimes they do that.
You should keep an eye out for it.
Yes, that's why you work the officials.
I would push back, and I'm the only person, maybe there are others, But no one's told me.
I'm the only person who thinks the full-time officiating thing is a total red herring.
Like, what do you want these guys to do the other five days of the week?
You want them to sit in a dark room.
With a projector for 96 hours.
They put in the work, and yes, they do have the jobs.
But I, I dont know what this full-time official thing is, I, I think people are delusional, not you, but the establishment is delusional if they Believe that telling these full-time officials that they can't have a day job will improve the Overall quality on a week-in, week-out basis.
I just don't think it will.
