DJ Reed admits being “wrong” to criticize officials, issues an apology
DJ Reed blasted the officials after the New York Jets lost to the Seattle Seahawks last week by 26-21 margin.
Follow Us
A dejected DJ Reed walks off the field after a disappointing loss to Seattle Seahawks (Image via New York Post)
New York Jets cornerback DJ Reed laid down his sword, admitting his mistake and apologized for his actions. Reed admitted that his reactions were purely based on emotions and the heat of the moment.
The New York Jets lost a 20+ lead last week after, the NFC West leaders Seattle Seahawks staged a comeback to defeat Aaron Rodgers and his men by 26-21. The Jets faced 12 penalties, starting with an early defensive holding call on Reed and culminating in four infractions during the Seahawks’ game-winning fourth-quarter drive.
Following the game, DJ Reed penned down a tweet criticizing the referees. In the since-deleted post, Reed noted that the referees should be ashamed of their actions.
The player, known for his thoughtfulness among the Jets roster, came through with the apology three days after the ill-fated incident. He said, via the New York Post, that he understood he was in the wrong after reflecting back on the incident.
I was just emotional, I definitely shouldn’t have said that, but I’m a human. It was a frustrating game that I thought we should’ve won but we ended up losing.
DJ Reed said
Reed continued his apology three days later as well.
The refs do the best of their ability just like I do the best of my ability. Some calls may be controversial, but that’s just part of the game. I have to give them leeway. Having time to reflect on it, I was in the wrong and I should not have said that.
About 72 hours later, DJ Reed added
He also underlined the root of his frustration – calling back to a specific play that caused him to act the way he did. The NFL hasn’t fined DJ Reed yet for his outburst.
Should DJ Reed be fined?
As per NFL Rules, DJ Reed should be heading towards a hefty fine to be slapped in the days to come. Under the “Offense Against Game Official” rule, physically contacting a referee results in a $39,501 fine for the first offense, doubling to $79,004 for a repeat violation.
However, since he didn’t make physical contact, he could instead face penalties for a “Verbal or Non-Physical Offense Against an Official,” which carries a $31,599 fine for the first offense and $63,204 for a second. Last year, the NFL fined Cleveland Browns defensive end and eventual DPOY Myles Garrett $25,000 for his “travesty” comment on the refereeing.
However, Reed’s teammate Aaron Rodgers got away with some of his statements after the Week 6 Buffalo Bills game. He described the decisions as “a little ridiculous,” adding, “Some of them seemed really bad, especially the roughing the passer call against me. That’s not roughing the passer.”
As the Jets hang on at the end of the playoff race, their postseason drought will extend, single-handedly registering the biggest active postseason drought among any major American leagues. At 3-9, Rodgers and gang are facing a terrible season despite having a roster worthy of making a deep run.
Related: Micah Parsons shocks everyone with his choice of the best defense in NFL right now
Stay Updated!
Mohammed Bazim
(406 Articles Published)