Add former Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman to the list of noteworthy people who disagreed with what became the most controversial penalty called in Super Bowl LVII.
"If the call’s debatable, you do not call it," Sherman explained during the latest edition of "The Richard Sherman Podcast," per Kevin Harrish of The Comeback. "In the National Football League, in the Super Bowl, if the call can be debated after, you do not make the call. New York (the league office) should’ve called down and said, 'Hey, wave that off. We’re not letting the game be determined like this.' And they did not and that’s two mistakes in one play."
"New York should have called down and said — 'Hey, wave that off'"
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) February 13, 2023
—@RSherman_25 goes IN on the NFL's officials after a controversial end to the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/SGefolO32O
The Kansas City Chiefs were facing a 3rd-and-8 at the Philadelphia Eagles' 15-yard line with just under two minutes to play in regulation and the score tied 35-35 on Sunday night. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes badly missed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and threw an incomplete pass that stopped the clock, but Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry was called for defensive holding.
The penalty gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs and an opportunity to bleed the clock nearly out until Harrison Butker made a short field goal that propelled Kansas City to a 38-35 victory:
.@buttkicker7 gives the @Chiefs the lead with 8 seconds left!
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2023
: #SBLVII on FOX
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2m pic.twitter.com/zic4DWtJ0a
Some may suggest that Sherman merely supported a fellow defensive player with his comments, especially considering that ESPN's Tim McManus pointed out Bradberry admitted after the game he held Smith-Schuster. Referee Carl Cheffers called Bradberry's action "a clear case of a jersey grab that caused restriction," but multiple coaches around the NFL complained about the call via text messages shared by The Athletic's Mike Sando.
One offensive coordinator from an AFC team remarked to Sando that "by Wednesday, no one will even remember (the penalty) happened except Philly players, coaches and fans." That certainly wasn't the case during sports talk television and radio programs throughout Monday:
The Chiefs scored a GW field goal set up by James Bradberry’s third down holding penalty:
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 13, 2023
“The flag robbed the Eagles and a chance for Jalen Hurts to have one last shot. It was the classic NBA-style play where you should’ve said ‘play on.’” — @RealSkipBayless pic.twitter.com/KR7Kp4582l
.@ShannonSharpe agrees with late holding call on James Bradberry in Super Bowl LVII:
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 13, 2023
“Just because it’s the Super Bowl doesn’t mean you don’t make that call.” pic.twitter.com/wYvfrSwFnC
Agree with the pivotal holding call on Eagles CB James Bradberry? @stephenasmith weighs in: pic.twitter.com/qidCkxjGwx
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 13, 2023
Should the refs have swallowed the whistle on that final defensive holding call in the Super Bowl? @TikiandTierney weigh in after BT "hated the way that ended." pic.twitter.com/VUDKF2kI2T
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) February 13, 2023
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