“We gotta fix the referee situation”: Ex-Packers WR calls out NFL officials over numerous game-costing bad calls vs. Lions

The Green Bay Packers lost 17-20 to the divisional rival Detroit Lions on Sunday, but it was not without controversy.

At least four highly disputed calls went against the Pack, including a roughing-the-passer penalty assessed on defensive tackle Karl Brooks. After the game, multiple players lashed out at the officiating, including safety Xavier McKinney, who said:

“I don’t know how the NFL’s going to treat it, but I’m not a big fan of the refs right now. I don’t think it’s great officiating, if I’m being completely honest. I think it’s (expletive) a lot of the time. … To me, it just don’t really make any sense, and it’s killing our momentum, it’s killing our drives, and it’s kind of (expletive) up the games, if I’m being honest.”

•

70% Win

(110-25-1)

70% Win

(110-25-1)

70% Win

(110-25-1)

Former wide receiver James Jones commiserated with him on Monday’s episode of “Speakeasy”:

“We gotta fix the referee situation. We gotta fix how we are handling somebody’s rules. We gotta stop protecting these quarterbacks like we bubblewrap them. … You put a finger on these quarterbacks. You gotta stop putting your body weight on them. You can’t push him out after this, you can’t do this, you can’t do that. Like, this is crazy.”

ALSO READ: “Let’s just go to flag football”: Micah Parsons rips NFL referees after controversial officiating in Packers’ loss to Lions

ALSO READ: “Refs need to be investigated” “WORST CALLED GAME”: NFL fans rip referees for controversial penalties favoring Lions against Packers

Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson praises officiating of Packers-Lions game

While many Packers players and fans are upset at how the referees handled Sunday’s game, at least one person is taking the opposite approach: Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.

The former Lions wide receiver was one of the guests on Monday’s episode of FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams” when the topic was brought up. He said:

“I mean, I would have been more p***** off in my day, but some of those calls went our way, so I’m like, “Hey, it’s about time.’ … Yeah, I’m biased, I know my bias is coming through I’m sorry, 100%. The referees did a great job there.”

He also had a joke about Karl Brooks’ roughing-the-passer penalty:

“He got a red jersey on. You can’t see the red jersey, but he’s got the red jersey on, you can’t hit those guys. You know that.”

The Lions and Packers will meet again in the final week of the season.

Edited by Andre Castillo