Myles Garrett fined $25,000 for criticizing NFL officiating

The NFL hit Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett with a whopping fine of $25,000 for his criticism of its officials after last weekend’s win over the Jaguars. Garrett called the officiating in the 31-27 victory a “travesty” and “awful” despite his team coming out on top.

The former No. 1 overall pick out of Texas A&M had just one tackle – a tackle for loss – in the win. Luckily for him, the $25,000 fine is manageable with his five-year, $125 million contract. Last season, the NFL hit him with a fine of $15,000 for a roughing the passer call against Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky.

“The officiating was a travesty today,” Garrett said during his post-game press conference. “It was honestly awful. And the fact that they’re letting them get away with hands to the face, holding, false starting — I know they called a couple, but damn, they could have called it all game. And [there was] the one that cost us down on the 2-yard line.

“I mean, respect to those guys, it’s a hard job, but hell, we have a hard job as well. You can’t make it harder by throwing holding and hands to the face out the rulebook. And like I said, I got a lot of respect for those guys, but we get scrutinized for the plays that we don’t make. So someone has to hold them accountable for the plays or the calls they don’t make. And they need to be under the same kind of microscope as we are every single play.”

Parsons rips NFL for failure to call holding

Dallas Cowboys hybrid DE Micah Parsons also railed against the NFL for not caring about calling holds against the league’s top defenders this season after the game against the Eagles. The former first-rounder has been awarded just two holding penalties all season and none in the past two months. He is third on the team behind DT Osa Odighizuwa and DE Dante Fowler in holding calls drawn.

According to Parsons, the NFL’s officials have told him that he “couldn’t” make the play when he believes he’s being held by offensive linemen.

“How are you telling me what (play) I can make?” Parsons said this week. “Are you in my body? You got my abilities? No, you can’t make that play. I’m a little different. I think I can make every play if I’m near the ball.”