Green Bay Packers Linebacker Files Complaint Against Ref For Making Him Look Ridiculous

Nick Barnett was made the laughing-stock of the NFL this weekend when he found himself wrestled to the ground by referee Jim Quirk during Sunday’s game against Chicago. It was probably the most comedic performance of the year since Jose Offerman went loco and charged a mound during a minor league game. Barnett has decided to file a grievance against the ref because it’s no fun getting taken out by an old dude. His agent took the mic:

“We’re going to put our complaint in writing through a grievance, even if the league has warned the official,” said Chuck Price, who represents Barnett. “This guy puts his arm around Nick’s throat…he should get more than a warning. If Nick pushes [Quirk] to the ground just as a response, he’d be suspended and fined a couple of hundred grand.”

The latter projecting images of the second funniest thing that could have happened during Sunday’s game. Yet, it makes us wonder. With all the bullying and smack talk referees have to put up with on a weekly basis, for once we’d like to see these guys get a little payback. NBA Joey Crawford tried to sucker Tim Duncan into a fistfight, and though it was the funniest/dumbest thing a ref could say, the reaction was decades worth of frustration coming out. Writers on strike? No biggie. Your next reality television show pins referees against active players in an octagon. It would be a smash, baby.

Source: NFL tells ref actions against Barnett ‘over the line’ [ESPN]
Image [OttawaCitizen]