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Cowboys: Jayron Kearse directly calls out NFL officiating

Originally posted on A to Z Sports
By Mauricio Rodriguez | Last updated 12/18/23

Just moments after the Dallas Cowboys missed a huge opportunity to challenge what would've potentially been a game-changing turnover, safety Jayron Kearse became the target of the zebras as he laid a big-time hit on Buffalo Bills WR Khalil Shakir.

Instead of forcing the Bills to third-and-nineteen, it was a first down for Josh Allen and friends, extending a drive that would end in a touchdown and a 21-3 score which basically secured the home team's chances of winning the ballgame.

Specifically, Kearse was called for a personal foul for "unnecessary roughness" after hitting Shakir. The Cowboys safety took to Twitter/X to voice his frustration, directly tagging the NFL Officiating account.

In the tweet, Kearse lays out his case, arguing that he "didn’t lower head/shoulder, didn’t make contact with crown of (the) helmet" and attaching video of the play, which you can see below.

Didn’t lower head/shoulder, didn’t make contact with crown of my helmet. What am I supposed to do @NFLOfficiating pic.twitter.com/qFQp4Vvebt
— JK (@Jayronkearse8) December 18, 2023

Is Jayron Kearse right about the play, though?

As much as I understand Kearse's frustration in an NFL that consistently takes care of offenses over defenses (Micah Parsons hasn't drawn a holding call in over two months, which is objectively hilarious), the truth is you see this call every week in the league.

Kearse is leaving his feet to hit a defenseless player (per the rulebook, a "receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner") and "forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder," which is prohibited contact against a defenseless player.

While Kearse is right in noting that he didn't lower his helmet nor did he hit Shakir with the crown of his helmet, the rules (unfair or not) still call for a flag in this situation for other reasons.

I can't say I'm a fan of the Cowboys safety's response to the situation considering that call was only a small part of the problem. The defense allowed 351 yards of offense even though Josh Allen completed only seven passes in 15 attempts. But I can understand it, especially considering we'll likely be talking about a fine for the veteran next weekend.

To be fair to Kearse, he was put in an uncomfortable position roaming centerfield as the team's free safety in place of Malik Hooker, who missed the game with a shoulder injury. His absence proved costly as Kearse didn't have the best game at free safety and simultaneously was taken out of the box, eliminating he's usual impact versus the run.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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