The Many Different Sides of the Toney Issue

Laddie Morse

First of all, and let’s be perfectly clear about this, the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 20-to-17 and there is no going back or getting around that point. Secondly, you must decide if you are coming at this issue as a player or as a fan. Why? Because if you are a player… you know the refs are part of the game and you are involved directly with the issues. If you are a fan… this is entertainment, pure and simple. We either cheer or boo. That’s it. When the booing takes primary hold, it may be time to find another passion.

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All Un-called Penalties

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I’m guessing that most of the people who read this site are fans so I will address that point of view, basically. However, we need to ferret out whether or not Kadarius Toney was in the wrong. There appears to be no argument as to whether or not Toney was offsides on that play, but there is some confusion as to whether or not he reported to a ref prior to the play taking place, which changes the approach we may have to this issue:

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So, there remains the issue of whether or not Toney checked in with the line official or not. If he did, then no flag should have ever been dropped. If he didn’t then it’s all on Toney. Then again… (1:58)

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Chiefs Head honcho Andy Reid said after the game that refs would usually check in with him if a player was lining up offsides or the ref might also check in with that player prior to that play. I did my own count and there just didn’t appear to be enough time to check in with KT before the play began, and it took approximately 8 seconds before that play was initiated.

Here’s Nick Wright addressing the play on his morning show:

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Was PM Wrong, or Was PM Right?

This doesn’t seem to be an issue if you are just a fan of the game. Why? Because our role is to cheer and cheer, mainly. Many fans get mixed up and think that for some reason their opinion matters to the NFL, the officials or the organization.

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Maybe we Chief fans get confused because over 10 years ago, Lamar Hunt appeared to listen to “Save Our Chiefs.com” and the banner flying over the stadium saying the same. Back then, Hunt fired the HC and GM and hired Coach Reid. Also, Patrick Mahomes backed off of his position on Monday:

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For some of us who have played the game as a youth, it’s especially tough because we know how the game operates on a first-hand basis. Still, we must separate our feeling’s of love for the game from our ability to remain part of the fan base.

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Game of Inches

Here’s Coach Reid addressing the media on Monday, talking about the refs and KT (2:04):

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As Reid said earlier, “Toney is a young player” — 24 years old — and while that does not forgive his mistake, he’s also a talented player with the best juke move I’ve seen since Barry Sanders donned a jersey.

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Here’s a football players take, free agent QB Matt Ryan, AKA, “Matty Ice” (1:31):

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An important quote by Carl Cheffers — head referee for that game — was offered in a report:

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“No warning is required especially if they are

lined up so far offsides where they’re actually

blocking our view of the ball. We would

give them some sort of a warning if it

was anywhere close, but this particular

one is beyond a warning.”

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As a fan who has experience playing this game, I am disappointed, but not emotionally invested or passionately upset. The refs are available to notify players when they consistently break the rules but it doesn’t sound like they are in a “Must Notify” situation.

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On the Other Hand

Consequently, how can we count on the game being called in a consistent way? That’s where I take issue with this conflict. The owners need to address the officials about this issue and they need ot make it clear as to what they want, and how they are saying it. Otherwise, we’re all just watching a game that can be determined by a bunch of guys who just happen to be wearing stripped shirts and show up for the games because they are getting paid.

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Officiating in the NFL

Many have used this event to make their case that the NFL games have been increasingly poorly officiated. That may be, but the process of holding a grudge is not what’s going to change this situation. Someone said they’d rather see a “Pissed off Patrick than a Passive Mahomes.” While that may be true, addressing this issue, doesn’t address the issues that these Chiefs have as a unit, at all, and that’s what really needs to be addressed.

Will this article resolve any of the issues? I doubt that, but it should help us understand our role in the process.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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