Getty New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaking with the officials during an NFL game.
A lot of New York Jets fans were unsatisfied with the officiating during the Buffalo Bills rematch on Sunday, December 11.
The fans weren’t the only ones who had some issues, rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson took to social media to share his frustrations.
“I ain’t got a call all season. One ref told me, ‘this ain’t Ohio State no more.’ Crazy.”
Wilson provided that commentary when he quote tweeted a video clip of himself getting whacked clearly out of bounds by Bills safety Jordan Poyer early in the third quarter over the weekend.
Wilson added on Twitter that the comment he heard from an official was during the “first Patriots game” at home but he didn’t remember the official’s name or “field number.”
Trying to Understand the Officiating Issue With Jets WR Garrett Wilson
There isn’t an official rule on this, but typically rookies who enter the NFL don’t get the same calls that other proven veterans get.
Obviously, there are a lot of variances here because there are different sets of officials all across the NFL and people call things differently.
However, to Wilson’s point, this wasn’t a subjective call like roughing the passer or passing interference. This one was pretty clear no matter what way you slice it.
On a third and 12 play with 14:08 remaining in the third quarter, Jets quarterback Mike White found an open Wilson for a first down.
As the former Ohio State product was stepping out of bounds he was absolutely smacked by Bills safety Jordan Poyer. When you watch both the replay and the still shot from Michael Nania on Twitter, it is pretty clear and obvious that Wilson is two yards out of bounds.
An investigation must be done on whoever this ref is
Despite that, the official didn’t throw a flag for unnecessary roughness or just a straight-up personal foul. As a matter of fact, he called nothing and allowed the game to continue to progress.
Mike White Clarifies Jets-Bills Drama on Social
Jets and Bills fans seemed split on whether or not a few hits on Mike White deserved to be flagged.
The one that is drawing the most attention is when Bills linebacker Matt Milano ran full speed into White who was stepping up into the pocket.
The result was a brutal car-crash-like collision that left White crumped in a heap. Ultimately he had to be helped off of the field and went into the locker room for further medical testing.
Fans debated back and forth whether or not the hit was legal, but White clarified all of that when he spoke to the media on Monday, December 12.
“I have watched those hits. The first one looked worse than what it actually was. I just lost my wind and once I got it back I was out there. The second one definitely looked how it felt. It was a clean hit, he got me good with a running start and they made a good play.”
#Jets QB Mike White (@MikeWhiteQB) said the hit he took from #Bills LB Matt Milano (@MatthewMilanoo) ‘looked how it felt’ 🤣 + despite some talk on social media, White said it was a ‘clean hit, he got me good’: 🎥 @nyjets #TakeFlight #BillsMafia
While White didn’t earn a flag for the beating he took versus Buffalo, he certainly earned the respect of his teammates.