PFT: Barnett Files Grievance against Official for Chokehold (Video)

[theogt]

Off-topic, but this is kind of crazy.

Video Link

POSTED 10:47 a.m. EST, December 27, 2007​

BARNETT FILES A GRIEVANCE AGAINST OFFICIAL

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It hasn't been a great month for NFL game officials.

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After a December 3 game between the Patriots and the Ravens, Baltimore cornerback Samari Rolle complained that an official called him "boy." (The matter reportedly was resolved via a finding that the official told Rolle and his teammates to "quit acting like boys." Eye roll.)

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Now, Packers linebacker Nick Barnett is filing a formal grievance regarding the force used by official James Quirk in an apparent effort to break up an on-field altercation.

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Quirk grabbed Barnett by the neck and wrestled him to the ground. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy called the behavior "totally unprofessional."

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"I'll tell you what, I've never seen anything like that in all my years," McCarthy said. "I didn't see the whole thing but I thought the official was totally out of line the way he grabbed Nick around the neck and pulled him out of there.

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"There was a lot going on throughout the game on both sides of the ball after the play was over. Their offensive line was getting after Nick a bunch down the stretch. And that goes on in these types of games. I didn't see all of it but I saw the end of it. I thought it was totally unprofessional. I thought it was totally out of hand."

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Said Barnett: "I got in a choke hold, I couldn't really breathe a little bit. He got a good one on me. I don't know how he got under that face mask, but he got a good hold on me."

No punishment of Quirk has been announced.​

 

[Woods]

Yhea, I saw that play.

I was wondering what the heck that offical was doing. I thought Barrnett was going to turn around and smack the official!

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Sorry, but these guys just come off as whiny babies.

Being called a "Boy", oh the horror .

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

I saw the play and thought the official was within his means to keep a situation from escalating. What would've happened if no officials intervened? I know that's not the issue in this case, but it could've been had the officials just let em go at it. Their job isn't just to call the game, but also to keep things from getting out of hand.

 

[joseephuss]

Nick Barnett was involved in every scuffle in that game. I saw him pile on late, push guys helmet's into the ground as he laid on them and just constantly pushing and shoving after the play. I was surprised a few times that flags were not thrown for his actions. The ref may have gone a little over board, but Barnett was lucky he did not get penalized for some of his actions or even ejected from the game.

 

[THUMPER]

The official went a little too far but he didn't hurt Barnett so why is that pansy making an issue of it now? Waaaaa!!! A 60-year old guy pulled me off a pile... by my neck!!! Oooooh, he hurt me Mommy!!!

Typical pansy Packer. They are starting to become the whiniest team in the league making it a close race between them and the Commanders.

 

[theogt]

I saw the play and thought the official was within his means to keep a situation from escalating. What would've happened if no officials intervened? I know that's not the issue in this case, but it could've been had the officials just let em go at it. Their job isn't just to call the game, but also to keep things from getting out of hand.

Probably the same thing that happens every other time a referee doesn't use a chokehold to break up a pile -- not much of anything.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

great read......

 

[Bizwah]

Nick Barnett was involved in every scuffle in that game. I saw him pile on late, push guys helmet's into the ground as he laid on them and just constantly pushing and shoving after the play. I was surprised a few times that flags were not thrown for his actions. The ref may have gone a little over board, but Barnett was lucky he did not get penalized for some of his actions or even ejected from the game.

I thought that too. Barnett was a dirty player that game. The official should've just flagged him. Getting him in a chokehold was a little overboard.

 

[Woods]

I thought that too. Barnett was a dirty player that game. The official should've just flagged him. Getting him in a chokehold was a little overboard.

That's what I think should at least be the first course of action - flag him. And if that doesn't work, simply eject him.

 

[pgreptom]

It's pretty smart IMO.

Calling a grown man who makes millions more than you do a "boy" is a slap - to yourself, because in todays society.. you're half the man he is.

However, the "boys" filing lawsuits is hilarious - especially if it's for money, because officials can only make so much. But it's even more of a slap in the face - because officials know you can't do anything to them on the field without harsh repercussions. Now, the players are "getting even" - so to speak.

It's absolutely hilarious.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Sorry, but these guys just come off as whiny babies.

Being called a "Boy", oh the horror .

I don't know Mike. In this case, Barnett is totally in the right. The official took him down. And just like players aren't supposed to put their hands on officials, officials aren't supposed to put their hands on the players.

BTW, the official was warned, but not sanctioned according to the ESPN article.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't care about defending Barnett but I will say there are clear cut rules about players laying a hand on the refs and by the same token the refs should not be grabbing players as this ref did. If he want to bring order then throw the flag and eject the player from the game and let the league deal with it but you grab a grown man like that you may end up getting more than you bargin for

 

[LeonDixson]

Nick Barnett was involved in every scuffle in that game. I saw him pile on late, push guys helmet's into the ground as he laid on them and just constantly pushing and shoving after the play. I was surprised a few times that flags were not thrown for his actions. The ref may have gone a little over board, but Barnett was lucky he did not get penalized for some of his actions or even ejected from the game.

I bet he will be in future games. If the refs feel any kind of a "fraternity" relationship with their peers, he could be seeing yellow from here on out after filing a grievance against the official.

 

[DasTex]

Million Dollar Dream?

Maybe the ref learned that move from this guy??

 

[03EBZ06]

However, the "boys" filing lawsuits is hilarious - especially if it's for money, because officials can only make so much. But it's even more of a slap in the face - because officials know you can't do anything to them on the field without harsh repercussions. Now, the players are "getting even" - so to speak.

Ehh, it's a grievance, not a lawsuit, a big difference.

 

[Jay-D]

It's bad enough that Nick Barnett got owned by a 60 year old referee.

Filing a grievance goes beyond the realm of owned and into the realm of ingested.

 

[superpunk]

Nice job by the old man, sticking his nose in there.

The refs in all sports have been protected from any scrutiny for much too long. It's a bizarre group where performance evaluations are almost irrelevant. "Oh, we won't ref a playoff game!" Anything that can bring attention on them, make them accountable for what they do on the field, is a good thing.

If something similar had occurred but the roles had been reversed, Barnett would have been destroyed. Fined, suspended, etc. The official was out of line. He should be punished.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Nice job by the old man, sticking his nose in there.

The refs in all sports have been protected from any scrutiny for much too long. It's a bizarre group where performance evaluations are almost irrelevant. "Oh, we won't ref a playoff game!" Anything that can bring attention on them, make them accountable for what they do on the field, is a good thing.

They're always held accountable. Just a matter of whether it is publicized or not.

If something similar had occurred but the roles had been reversed, Barnett would have been destroyed. Fined, suspended, etc. The official was out of line. He should be punished.

I do think something stronger than a warning should be given... If this grievance goes thru, then maybe something will.

 

[Mavs Man]

Million Dollar Dream?

Maybe the ref learned that move from this guy??

Well, you know everybody has a price...

HA HA HA HA HA!!!