Steelers' Najee Harris calls NFL refs 'soft' after Rams game
NFL officiating has generated plenty of discourse since the end of Week 7. The Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Rams had their own set of controversies, even if Coach T put those to bed on Tuesday. But those dawning the black and gold weren't done just yet, with Steelers Pro Bowler Najee Harris taking a […]
NFL officiating has generated plenty of discourse since the end of Week 7.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Rams had their own set of controversies, even if Coach T put those to bed on Tuesday.
But those dawning the black and gold weren't done just yet, with Steelers Pro Bowler Najee Harris taking a shot of his own:
No More Trash Talking
"We're just competing. We're competitors. The game is tight, you wanna make plays, and you might have a little bit of chit-chat, and we just have to find a balance between when it's too much and when to stop. And that's just something we can fix easily, discipline," Harris said via Mark Kaboly on Twitter. "Receivers and DBs, that's just normal. They do that every play. Sometimes, I think they can be a little bit too soft, as in the refs, but it's football. People are gonna talk."
The above clip is the primary play that Harris is referring to, with Johnson receiving a taunting penalty that would result in the replay of a critical third down late in the game for Pittsburgh.
In fairness to the officials, they have toned down the taunting calls since they were instituted in the 2021 season, but they shouldn't be in the rule book at all in my opinion.
If a player goes over the top, sure give them an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. But the truth is, this is a game built on intensity and tenacity. Testosterone is flowing, and tempers run hot.
That doesn't mean you should be allowed to lose all civility on the field, going around fighting people, but what part of the above clip is malicious? And if the refs actually followed the game, they would know that DJ and Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon (44) were former teammates back when Witherspoon was on the Steelers, with some competitive jawing sure to go on.
But unfortunately, for whatever reason, the league has decided to tame the competitiveness, meaning that Johnson, Harris, Pickens, and every other Steeler will have to reign it in, no matter how ridiculous it seems.
Steelers’ George Pickens admits the Rams ‘got under his skin’ on Sunday
Here is what Pickens had to say in regard to the multiple penalties he received.
