The NFL did not include the infamous Clay Matthews hit on their post-Week 2 officiating video, contrary to their reported plans, according to a report.
ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter Jason Wilde said on Twitter Friday night that he watched the NFL’s video shared with officials this week and the hit was not on it.
So … Just watched the #NFL's Week 3 officiating video. The one that was going to include Clay Matthews' hit on Kirk Cousins because that type of hit is a foul. It is 5 minutes, 15 seconds long. And Matthews' hit — which the league defended earlier in the week — is not on it.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) September 22, 2018
Matthews’ hit on Kirk Cousins late in Sunday’s tie between the Vikings and Packers was one of the biggest controversies of the weekend. Matthews was called for roughing the passer for what most felt was a textbook hit on Cousins. The penalty negated an interception that likely would have sealed the Packers’ win.
A day after the call, both ESPN and The Washington Post reported that the NFL agreed with the call and planned to include it in their video to the officials about what constitutes roughing the passer.
Did they change their mind? Have they reversed course on their enforcement of the penalty? Or have they finally realized that Matthews’ hit did not really constitute “stuffing” the quarterback and therefore should not have been called?
The sooner they stop calling these clean hits penalties, the better off the game will be.
