NFL Referees Association calls "conspiracy theories" both "insulting" and "preposterous"
On Monday, Commissioner Roger Goodell pushed back on the suggestion that game officials favor the Chiefs. On Tuesday, the union representing game officials issued a statement expressing appreciation for the Commissioner's remarks.
'Commissioner Goodell's comments that it is 'ridiculous' to presume that NFL Officials are not doing everything possible to make the right call on every play is spot on,' NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green said. 'Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season. It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.'
That's a bit strong. And it teeters on the possibility of protesting too much. The fans who believe that the Chiefs are receiving assistance from the officials believe that the league has made it clear to the officials that they should assist the Chiefs. A conspiracy among the 138 officials isn't needed, if they're taking their directions from 345 Park Avenue.
'There are many things that fans can worry about over a 17-game season, such as coaching decisions, player injuries, the weather and, yes, even close calls on incredible plays made by incredible athletes,' Green said. 'But you can rest assured that on every single down, NFL officials, both on the field and in the replay booth, are doing everything humanly possible to officiate every play correctly.'
That still doesn't prevent subconscious motivations from creeping into the brain of the officials. As we've said in the past, the elimination of the wall between football business and football integrity could easily prompt officials to become keenly aware that money comes from ratings, ratings come from having star quarterbacks available to play, and officials have a role in keeping star quarterbacks healthy.
It's not about the Chiefs. It's about the star quarterbacks. Beyond Mahomes being the biggest star quarterback — and arguably the player most valuable to the entire league — he's consistently playing in the most important games. So if the officials have a subconscious bias to protect star quarterbacks, Mahomes will be the one who benefits from it the most.
It's not a conspiracy. It's a manifestation of the league's belief that, without star quarterbacks available to play, the product will suffer, the ratings will drop, the revenue decline, and there will be less money available to pay everyone — including the officials.
With the Super Bowl approaching, the immediate question is whether the subconscious bias to protect players like Mahomes will, given the talk of the officials favorng the Chiefs, result in a correction that will benefit the Eagles.

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New York Times
29 minutes ago
- New York Times
Patrick Mahomes' future blindside protector? Chiefs have high expectations for rookie Josh Simmons
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Truth told, it was an easy call for Kansas City, now four months removed from a 40-22 shellacking in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles didn't just rout them that night in New Orleans, they forced the Chiefs — the league's gold standard for years — to confront some hard truths about the state of their roster and what the next few years for Mahomes could look like if the issues exposed weren't addressed, and addressed promptly. Same as the franchise's Super Bowl LV loss to the Bucs four years prior, this humbling served as a referendum for a leaky offensive line. Mahomes spent three hours running for his life (he was sacked six times and hit 11) and played his worst game as a pro. To get back on track — and have a shot at a fourth Super Bowl triumph in the Mahomes era — it starts in the trenches. 'It's on me to fix it, to get it where it should be,' Reid told The Athletic's Mike Silver last week. 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One veteran the Chiefs were thrilled to welcome back was guard Trey Smith, who was on the field Tuesday for the first time this spring. Smith, who was franchise-tagged in March, skipped all of OTAs and is seeking a new deal. 'It's good Trey didn't take my approach,' said teammate Chris Jones, the All-Pro defensive end who held out two years ago all the way into the regular season before signing a five-year, $158 million contract. 'Trey's doing the right thing, man. I think the future plans of the Chiefs is to have Trey around.' Smith is expected to report to training camp in July, and the Chiefs have said they want to get a deal done. Simmons' arrival offers the Chiefs valuable depth at a position of glaring need: The team signed former 49ers reserve Jaylon Moore in the offseason to a two-year, $30 million deal. At this point, Moore is the projected starter at left tackle, which will allow Simmons time to acclimate to the pro game while he continues to strengthen his knee. Simmons said every stage of his rehab has gone to plan, and that he felt 'good straight off the (operating) table' because he had the operation done by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, one of the leading surgeons in the field. For their sake, the Chiefs examined Simmons' knee closely during the draft process and felt confident there would be no lingering effects. So far, so good. On the field, Simmons said the learning curve hasn't been as severe as he'd imagined, something he credits his time at Ohio State for. 'I know what to anticipate,' he said. Another layer to his education is the persistent presence of Mitchell Schwartz, the Chiefs' former right tackle who retired after the 2020 season and remains a sounding board for the team's linemen. Schwartz was on hand Tuesday, watching intently from the sideline. 'He'll give me tips and tricks that'll help me on this play, or what Pat might do on this play that can set me up for a different angle,' Simmons said. 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