Aaron Rodgers claims NFL ‘too cheap to pay’ referees following Brad Allen’s controversial Cowboys vs Lions ruling

The New York Jets are now out of the playoff race, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t get the chance to resume his play once again in the 2023 NFL season. Despite initial excitement about his potential return to the field this season after tearing his Achilles months ago, A-Rod stayed out of the field.

The Jets dream of ending their playoff drought continues while Rodgers prepares to shine on the field next season. Keeping aside his own battle, the quarterback regularly shares his insights about other high-voltage incidents in the NFL. He has recently shed light on the infamous call of referee Brad Allen in the Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions match and blamed the NFL for failing to ensure competent refs on the field.

Aaron Rodgers slams NFL for hiring unqualified refs

Following the controversial ending of the Cowboys-Lions game, Aaron Rodgers expressed his disappointment with the NFL referees’ lack of accountability during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Reflecting on his personal experience during the infamous “Fail Mary” game, which featured replacement officials due to a labor dispute, A-Rod emphasized the significance of having top-notch referees. He also expressed disappointment with the NFL’s decision to hire individuals he believed were not suitable for officiating, even at the high school level.

“I was part of the Fail Mary when the NFL got too cheap to pay the refs what they’re due and hired a bunch of people who didn’t deserve to be on a high school field, they couldn’t even ref my JC games…,” Rodgers said via ON3.

The 40-year-old star later delved into what happened in the recent game. He highlighted the moment when multiple players approached the referee, expressing their confusion over the situation.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the play, everybody wants a little bit of accountability, for sure. I don’t understand why three guys went to the referee. Sewell went, Decker went and 70 (Skipper) went. I don’t know what Brad (Allen) was thinking here, it seemed like he left before what could be said.”

As the Lions aimed for a go-ahead two-point conversion, a misunderstanding in reporting eligible receivers cast a shadow over the game’s outcome. The confusion involved lineman Taylor Decker and his counterpart, Dan Skipper. Video footage circulated on social media showed Decker seemingly attempting to clarify his eligibility directly with referee Brad Allen.

However, despite these efforts, Allen ultimately recognized Skipper as the eligible receiver. The miscommunication persisted, which later resulted in the failed attempt by Lions quarterback Jared Goff to connect with James Mitchell, securing a victory for Dak Prescott’s squad.

Aaron Rodgers talks on importance of top-rated refs

Aaron Rodgers slammed the NFL for not only not hiring qualified referees but also for using as many as eleven crews in the playoffs rather than just the six that performed the best. According to A-Rod, this decision has the potential to impact the quality of officiating in important games that have significant playoff implications.

The quarterback expressed a sentiment that many players share by acknowledging referees like Gene Steratore as being among the best. He recognized Steratore’s consistency and proficiency in officiating. He also suggested that, rather than involving nearly all crews, the NFL should prioritize the top-performing four crews.

“As players, we know who the best refs are. Gene Steratore was the best. He was the best. I think there were too many times over the years where it wasn’t a true meritocracy for the playoffs. Do you really need to have 10 or 11 of the 17 crews be represented? No, you don’t. You just have the top four. It should be the top of the top.”

The NFL playoffs represent the pinnacle of competition, where the best teams battle it out for a chance to secure the Super Bowl title. Just as teams undergo a rigorous selection process based on performance, Rodgers’ points say the referee crews should face a similar scrutiny as well. The veteran can’t be held wrong in his take as the integrity of a match rely heavily on the accuracy and consistency of officiating, especially in high-stakes playoff scenarios.