Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews has some choice words for the NFL.
After getting his third call of the season for roughing the passer, Matthews accused the NFL’s new rules of being too soft.
“Unfortunately this league’s going in a direction I think a lot of people don’t like. I think they’re getting soft,” Matthews said, per ESPN. “The only thing hard about this league is the fines they levy down on guys like me who play the game hard.”
Matthews was penalized Sunday for coming down too hard on Redskins QB Alex Smith, a call many viewed as unfair and biased.
Roughing the passer. Clay Matthews may actually kill a referee at this point pic.twitter.com/ta9zJqrAOO
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 23, 2018
Known popularly as the “Aaron Rodgers Rule,” some defenders are now forbidden, under new NFL rules, from coming down on a quarterback with their full bodyweight.
“Players will have to kind of roll to the side when they make that tackle instead of plopping down on them,” referee Pete Morelli explained, per the Pioneer Press.
Clay Matthews obviously thinks he delivered a fair hit. And he’s not alone.
Lol this is ridiculous. https://t.co/LMvdRjpfWy
— Joe Schobert (@TheSchoGoesOn53) September 23, 2018
Clay Matthews gets his 3rd roughing the passer penalty in three weeks
Mike McCarthy ain’t having it. pic.twitter.com/sn64THnOo8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 23, 2018
@nfl please tell me what was wrong with @ClayMatthews52 hit on the QB. This new rule is horrible. Horrible for the game and the players (nonQB) that play it
— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) September 23, 2018
An urgent plea to @ClayMatthews52 to please just pay the ransom money to the NFL pic.twitter.com/kIjTU5inZ8
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) September 23, 2018
Normally I hate the “league getting soft” takes but I’m with Clay on this one. https://t.co/W5rEpqxCDU
— Andrew Garda (@Andrew_Garda) September 23, 2018
Despite increasing outcry over the new NFL rules, there’s been little indication that the league plans to change any implementations.
In other words, Clay’s troubles are likely here to stay.