As bad as the replacement officials have been over the first three weeks of the season, there remains a line that coaches and players should not cross. Arguing calls is one thing, but coaches shouldn’t be grabbing refs after the game or chasing them down in the locker room and swearing at them. And players certainly shouldn’t be saying what Larry Foote reportedly said to the officiating crew after Pittsburgh’s loss to Okland.
According to Jory Rand of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, the Steelers linebacker made it a point to get to the locker room at the same time as the officials following the game.
“You should go kill yourselves,” Foote allegedly yelled. “Ya’ll (bleep)ing suck.”
Rand said several officials turned their heads to see who had yelled it. He also said Foote had left the room by the time reporters got the chance to ask him about his comment.
Foote was likely angry over what he thought was a chop block against Steelers defensive end Ziggy Hood in the fourth quarter during the Raiders game-winning drive. Hood was injured on the play and had to be helped off the field. Foote was seen arguing with the officials following the no-call.
It doesn’t really matter what calls the refs made or should have made during the game — there’s no excuse for saying something like that. The refs have made some horrible calls and you can understand why Foote was frustrated after a tough loss, but there has to be some level of respect toward the officiating crew. Add the Steelers linebacker to the never-ending list of coaches and players who could be fined this week.
H/T Deadspin
