Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman ripped into the NFL on Thursday, questioning the league’s officiating and saying the decline in television ratings is due in part to the league simply not being fun anymore.
Sherman touched on a number of topics, including commissioner Roger Goodell, but most of his ire was directed at NFL officiating. Sherman wasn’t so much upset with the officials, but with the rule book that he believes is too challenging.
‘‘You have a bunch of rocket scientists writing rules for a simple game. Like I said before, they say they ask coaches and players about rules and rule changes, but they really don’t take what they say into account because the game is entirely too difficult to officiate,’’ Sherman said. ‘‘To be written by coaches and players, to be influenced by coaches and players, this game would be a lot more simplified for the refs.’’
Sherman was critical of the calls after Seattle’s 25-20 loss to New Orleans last Sunday. The Seahawks were flagged for 11 penalties versus just two for the Saints.
But what seemed to irritate Sherman the most was a pair of possible calls that were not made. New Orleans appeared to twice get away with offensive pass interference in the second half. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he had discussions with the league about the non-calls but would not elaborate.
Sherman was more than happy to say the league informed the team those plays should have been penalties on the Saints.
‘‘We probably lead the league in NFL apologies the next day,’’ Sherman said.
As for the ratings decline, Sherman said players are allowed to show they are having fun in other leagues but the NFL has regulated that element out of the game.
‘‘Every other league you see players have a good time,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s a game. This isn’t politics. This isn’t justice. This is entertainment and they’re no longer allowing the players to entertain. They’re no longer allowing the players to show any personality. Any kind of uniqueness, any kind of individuality because they want to control the product. They want to control the messaging.’’
Sherman said he believes it’s hypocritical that the league says its crackdown on players having fun is to be good influences for kids.
‘‘That’s their biggest ploy is that you don’t want to be a bad influence to kids. You don’t want to be a bad role model. And I can agree with that,’’ Sherman said. ‘‘But in the same breath you can’t say Budweiser is the official sponsor of the NFL and we’re trying to influence kids. There is a ton of hypocrisy but it doesn’t matter because we don’t control it.’’
Eagles cut Huff
Two days after he was arrested on gun and drug charges, Josh Huff lost his job.
The Eagles released the wide receiver and special teams standout, reversing course after coach Doug Pederson said he planned to play Huff against the Giants this week.
‘‘I apologized for everything that happened,’’ Huff told the AP. ‘‘I have trust in God and I’ll be fine.’’
Huff was charged Tuesday with possession of a 9-millimeter handgun without a permit and having a small amount of marijuana after he was pulled over for speeding on the New Jersey side of the Whitman bridge.
McCoy ‘ready to roll’
Bills running back LeSean McCoy tested his injured left hamstring in practice before announcing he expects to play at Seattle on Monday night. ‘‘I felt good. Mentally, I feel great,’’ McCoy said. ‘‘So I’m ready to roll.’’ The practice session was Buffalo’s first this week, and McCoy’s first time back on the field since aggravating the injury in a 28-25 loss at Miami Oct. 23, four days after he was initially hurt . . . 49ers running back Carlos Hyde said he suffered an AC joint injury in his shoulder that may prevent him from playing Sunday against the Saints.
