Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore. Why? Because according to what he told a crowd of 2,000 supporters in Reno, Nevada on Sunday, the cherished national pastime of American Football has gone too soft — just like the great country of the United States has.
Per the Washington Post, Trump’s current grievance with the NFL was spurred by Saturday’s Wild Card playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Was he angry about reports that fans were fighting with and pissing on each other in the stands? Or that Ben Roethlisberger suffered an upper-body injury in the second half? Turns out, the Donald was miffed about the referees’ penchant for throwing too many flags for personal fouls at the end of the game:
“Now they tackle. ‘Oh, head-on-head collision, 15 yards.’ The whole game is all screwed up. You say, ‘Wow, what a tackle.’ Bing. Flag. Football has become soft. Football has become soft. Now, I’ll be criticized for that. They’ll say, ‘Oh, isn’t that terrible.’ But football has become soft like our country has become soft. [Applause] It’s true. It’s true. The outcome of games has been changed by what used to be phenomenal, phenomenal stuff. Now these are rough guys, these are rough guys. These guys — what they’re doing is incredible, but I looked at it and I watched yesterday in particular. So many flags, right? So many flags. And I could imagine a guy like Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus, who was really rough, and some of these guys sitting there watching. ‘Wow, what a beautiful tackle.’ ‘Fifteen yards! That’s — the game is over.’ You can’t kick a field goal any more.”
Trump didn’t name cities, teams or players, but his emphasis on referees’ preferring penalties to allowing tackles was telling. So too was his mention of a 15-yard penalty causing a big mess, like the one that happened at Saturday’s game. Following Vontaze Burfict’s knockout tackle of Antonio Brown, the penalty (and another personal foul) put the Steelers into field goal range, which ultimately cost Cincinnati the game.
YUUUUUGE tackles like these used to be respected, according to Trump, and the penalties’ focus on preventative safety measures (Concussion, anyone?) are ruining their former glory:
“It’s become weak and you know what? It’s going to affect the NFL. I don’t even watch it as much anymore. It’s going to affect the NFL. I don’t watch it. The referees, they want to all throw flags so their wives see them at home. ‘Oh, there’s my husband.’ [Laughter] It’s true. ‘He just broke up — he just gave a 15-yard penalty on one of the most beautiful tackles made this year.’ Right?
“It’s boring — although I love Tom Brady. I gotta tell you. I do love Tom. He’s a great guy. But it’s different. But it’s become soft and our country has become soft.”
Trump’s on-and-off-again relationship with the NFL is nothing new, especially whenever the New England Patriots quarterback enters the picture. Of course, a brief look at the New York real estate mogul’s Twitter history reveals several years’ worth of animosity for the league:
The NFL has just barred ball carriers from using helmet as contact. What is happening to the sport? The beginning of the end.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2013
The NFL image is really tarnished! Now, if the sponsors start leaving and the ratings go down, the NFL will be in big trouble. Boring games!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2014
The NFL should have its non-profit status immediately revoked while at the same time ending the giant tax scam which makes teams so valuable
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2014
I don't know what it is, but I'm getting totally bored watching NFL football. Too many penalties and far too soft! T.V. off and back to work
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2014
The @nfl ratings continue to fall every week and will keep dropping. Boring games–too many flags–too soft!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2014
Especially the referees:
I picked seven Super Bowl winners in a row & would have been right last night had the refs thrown the flag.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2013
Referees are destroying the enjoyment of NFL games. Slowing down the fun. Big shots. Jets game is ridiculous!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2013
And the Buffalo Bills:
Wow. @nfl ratings are down big league. Glad I didn't get the Bills. Rather be lucky than good.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2014
Are NFL games getting boring or is it just my magnificent imagination? In any event, I'm just not watching them much anymore!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2014
(Via the Washington Post)