Montez Sweat: Roughing calls 'really degrading the game'

Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Montez Sweat on roughing the passer calls: 'It's really degrading the game'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/11/22

It was reported Tuesday morning that the NFL is planning to discuss roughing the passer penalties, as the league deals with immense criticism stemming from a pair of questionable calls in Week 5.

A host of Washington Commanders players voiced their opinions on the state of the NFL Tuesday and were critical of the officiating as well. Among them was fourth-year edge-rusher Montez Sweat, who said the calls were "really degrading the game."

Thoughts on the roughing calls?

Montez Sweat: “It’s really degrading the game. It’s f***in’ soft as hell, if you ask me, and it’s ruining the game of football. “

What can you do as a defensive player?

Sweat: “I guess put a pillow up under the quarterback when you sack him.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 11, 2022

Some strong reaction in the Commanders' locker room to the roughing calls across the NFL lately: pic.twitter.com/7asgmTAGWZ
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 11, 2022

Reports on Tuesday indicated that conversations regarding roughing the passer penalties were "internal" and "changes to the rule are not expected during the season."

One of the plays in question came from the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on Sunday where Atlanta defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was called for a penalty after seemingly sacking Tom Brady on a 3rd-and-5 late in the fourth quarter as his team trailed 21-15. Instead, Tampa Bay was awarded the first down and the Falcons never got the ball back.

During the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders contest on "Monday Night Football," Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones looked to have a strip-sack of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the first half in Las Vegas territory, but another roughing the passer penalty was issued. The crowd erupted in boos, but Kansas City ended up with the dramatic 30-29 victory after storming back from a 17-0 first-half deficit.

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