Atlanta Falcons: Smith seeing yellow from 21 flags
081612 ATLANTA: Bengals wide receiver Brandon Tate makes a first down catch and then pays the price with a hit from Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes during 1st half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Thursday, August 16, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Perhaps, the replacement refs just don’t like the Falcons.
The Falcons have been called for 21 penalties for 242 yards in two exhibition games. They had 10 for 120 against the Ravens and 11 for 122 against the Bengals.
“That is something that we definitely have to improve on,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It’s a trend right now over the first two ball games.”
Smith wouldn’t blame the replacement refs for the calls even though they called Jonathan Babineaux for a facemask penalty after he snatched down Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton by the shoulder pads.
“We never comment about officiating,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter who is calling the game. I know this; we’ve got to fix the amount of penalties that we are committing. You can’t have 21 penalties in two ball games and be the type of football team that we want to be. You can’t win if you have double-digit penalties.”
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11 comments Add your comment
Michael M.
August 17th, 2012
3:07 pm
Bravo ! D-led…………………………..
JSS
August 17th, 2012
3:09 pm
Sign of a team that takes some plays off and are out of position at times… Still, those replacement refs are a travesty! Billion dollar industry run like a Church’s Chicken franchise!
falconfanriseup
August 17th, 2012
3:44 pm
They had many bad calls many
Michael M.
August 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
21 penalties for 242 yards in two exhibition games…………….you can’t win games when you are backpedaling such as this and it ‘ must ‘ stop moving forward or it will only get worse!
I wonder what is going through Coach Smith’s mind today and what he is focused on for the days ahead ?
Hope he is calling them out and reprimanding them about this !
Foghorn Leghorn
August 17th, 2012
4:17 pm
Hey,, I like Church’s Chicken,,,
JSS
August 17th, 2012
4:52 pm
Chicken self-hatred issues Foghorn?
Falcon James
August 17th, 2012
5:50 pm
The refs are a pretty sad group. I bet the real Ref is laughing they a$$ off.
thejama
August 17th, 2012
5:54 pm
The refs missed so many blatent holding penalties by the Bengals O-Line it was ridiculous. I could be wrong but when you have the guy in a bear hug that might be holding but what do I know!?#$ Was kinda glad to see P Jerry get after the QB even if he got a personal foul. I think this is his 3rd year since the knee injury…time to become the 1st rd pick he was supposed to be.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 17th, 2012
10:32 pm
Every preseason game so far the replacement refs are seriously blowing calls. Hopefully the NFL and the “REAL” Refs union can get their issues resolved before the regular season otherwise it is going to be a long season of incorrect/bad calls.
Eddog 45
August 18th, 2012
10:26 am
All Ref’s make bad calls, but these refs have me >>>>SMH>>>>>. some of the calls are more atune with high-school football than the NFL. (just saying………..I know coach Smith don’t make comments on ref. but he has got to smile at some of the calls
First time Season Tix Holder
August 18th, 2012
5:55 pm
Beer