Absolutely each NFL participant has questioned the flexibility or integrity of the league’s referees in some unspecified time in the future — often in non-public, as they blow off steam after a troublesome loss. Puka Nacua simply occurred to do it on a Twitch stream for a channel with 7 million subscribers.
The Los Angeles Rams extensive receiver was dwell with streamers Adin Ross and N3on on Tuesday, December 16, when he weighed in on the state of officiating within the NFL.
“The refs are the worst. These guys are attorneys, they wanna be on TV too bro,” Nacua, 24, mentioned. “You don’t suppose he’s texting his associates of their group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys noticed me try this on Sunday Night time Soccer? That wasn’t [pass interference], however I referred to as it.’ These guys are regular human beings too, bruh.”
His remark got here in response to Ross, 25, who requested him whether or not he believes the refs “be bulls***ing” typically.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the NFL has not introduced any disciplinary motion in opposition to Nacua for his feedback, however the league has a historical past of fining gamers for criticizing officers. Simply final 12 months, the NFL fined Houston Texans gamers Will Anderson Jr. and Joe Mixon $25,000 every for criticizing the officiating of their playoff loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
The 12 months earlier than, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was docked $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes $50,000 for the same offense after a loss to the Buffalo Payments.
Nacua’s feedback may have been made even worse had the stream performed out as deliberate. Ross and N3on, 21, had been supposed to affix Nacua on the Rams’ follow facility however had been denied entry, based on The Athletic.
“I assumed my staff communicated. I assume there was no communication,” Nacua mentioned on the stream. “Particularly then, when Coach discovered, he didn’t f*** with that. Simply due to the brief week. Let me deal with enterprise on Thursday, then we ought to be good.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Pictures; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Pictures There’s all the time somebody left complaining in regards to the referees on the finish of a serious sporting occasion, and when the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are concerned, these complaints develop louder — and typically even embody Taylor Swift. Comic Invoice Burr used a Monday, January 27, look on the Wealthy […]
The Rams will face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, December 18, on the highway in a sport that could possibly be essential for his or her playoff hopes. The 2 groups have matching 11-3 information.
Nacua’s criticism wasn’t the one controversial assertion he made on the stream. Requested who essentially the most overrated staff within the NFL is, he answered actually somewhat than deflect and keep away from making any enemies.
“Anyone within the AFC. The AFC isn’t even that nice,” he mentioned. “Gotta say the [Jacksonville Jaguars].”
This marked the third time within the span of only a couple weeks wherein he sparked controversy as a result of a livestream.
On a December 4 stream with N3on, he took a shot on the Indianapolis Colts’ Sauce Gardner.
“Ain’t no one making an attempt to be in Indianapolis proper now,” he mentioned.
4 days later, after the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Nacua went dwell by way of Instagram within the locker room and appeared to argue with an off-camera teammate when he requested the extensive receiver to cease recording.
After Nacua initially denied he was dwell, the teammate responded, “What do you imply you’re not? I’m it.”
“I do know. But it surely’s not of all people,” Nacua responded. “No person’s in right here but, cuzzo. Ain’t no one’s butt cheeks are on digicam, man. Sit back, bruh.”
