You know, I'm sure there are plenty of times opposing quarterbacks would like a penalty to be called on me. I can see the look in their eyes, I watch their expressions change, I hear them plead to the referees..."There's no way my guy was covered that well! That had to be a penalty!". Quarterbacks love to complain to the referees after I break up a pass or pick off their throw. They just can't believe someone could be in such perfect position, with such good timing, and such unbelievable closing speed. But as much as they whine and moan about the lack of a flag they know, deep down somewhere, that I got one over on them. These quarterbacks try to test me, and they pay the price for it. And the receivers are no better. You should hear them crying after every snap. You think they'd learn, but hubris is a hell of a drug. The next time they try and test me I'll prove it to them all over again. Go ahead and throw a flag on them for excessive whining.
In a week 7 clash of the DSFL titans, Norfolk traveled to Portland. The game was tight throughout, but an ill-timed penalty from Norfolk really hurt their chances to come out on top. With Norfolk leading 10-7 and every point counting, Malcolm Savage and the Seawolves offense was marching down the field and had reached the Portland 18 yard line. After a short pass completion to Tight End Jake Endson, a flag on the play stopped all momentum on the drive...it was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the veteran Guard, Mauler Panda, and it took the Seahawks from 2nd and 8 at the 18 yard line to 3rd and 22 at the 32 yard line. After a one yard pass completion, Jack Lewis lined up for the field goal and a chance extend the Norfolk lead...and missed the kick. Effectively, the penalty had driven the team back and they went from threatening to score a touchdown (or have a very manageable field goal) to settling for a nearly 50 yard field goal that they missed. Portland took good field position off the field goal miss and ended up winning the game 28-10.
Agent Tesla: Oh! This one still gets me heated a decade later and I wasn't even involved. Let me set the scene for you the New Orleans Second Line who had rattled off one of the most impressive win streaks in league history during the regular season before seeing a strange four game skid to lose first place heading into the playoffs is up 24 to 17 over the Orange County Otters. Third and ten with just a few minutes left in regulation and Armstrong is sacked for a loss of 5 yards by Johnny Slothface. Well actually Johnny Slothface's relative, but that is a story for another day. So Otters have it fourth and fifteen on the New Orleans nineteen yard line down seven when the referee called the most phantom facemask I have ever seen on Ben Tu'inukuafe.
Now I have it on good authority that referee had money on the game and was actively trying to give the Otters a chance to win it. Thing is the Otters went with the cautious approach after scoring their touchdown to kick the extra point and take it to overtime. Where the Second Line were able to march down and get a field goal, and then were able to hold the Otters for a turnover on downs. Ultimately it had no impact on the game as a whole, but Johnny Slothface had won that game on that third down if not for the referee trying to rig the game.
Magnus Rikiya: Tesla that was a decade ago and I wasn't on that team.
Cross-Eriksen: Same.
Agent Tesla: Do you think that matters to me? Slothface is a beloved friend and deserved better than he got. I will hold this grudge until the end of days.
Magnus Rikiya: Are you saying you are going to live until the end of days?
A questionable call occurred during this season's Week 11 game between the Colorado Yeti and the San Jose Sabercats. With 11:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Yeti were getting a new drive started while trailing 10-17. The play opened up with a nice gain as Mattathias Caliban connected with Tsuyu Asui about 20 yards down the field. However, the play ended up being nullified by an Offensive Pass Interference penalty. The strange part was that the penalty was not called on the receiver who caught the ball, but rather on Raphael Delacour who was over on the other side of the field. Yeti fans were not pleased with this call as Delacour did not have any tangible effect on the outcome of the play and they did not think it was fair for the gain to be nullified due to his actions. However, the officials did not agree with the fans' logic and decided to call the penalty. Luckily, the Yeti were able to get back on track quickly after the penalty. The following play ended up being even better as Cole Maxwell caught the ball and ran down field for an 80 yard gain. Three plays later the Yeti would find the end zone and score a game-tying touchdown. This drive proved to be decisive as the Yeti would go on to win by exactly 7 points with a final score of 27-20. The Yeti were lucky they were able to get back on track quickly after the penalty as it would have come to haunt them if the drive had stalled out afterwards and missing out on points on that drive had cost them the game.