‘There’s a lot at stake’ – Troy Aikman asks NFL referees to make right calls for the fans predicted to wager $23 billion on Super Bowl
Troy Aikman isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned NFL commentator didn’t hold back when it came to officiating the Kansas City Chiefs‘ divisional round win over Houston Texans. Mahomes was accused of flopping in the Chiefs’ divisional round win over the TexansGetty There were several questionable calls that went in favor of the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, particularly when it came to roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness flags. Aikman couldn’t believe one specific instance. Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket, slowed down, waited for the defenders to get close, then slid down in front of the defenders, forcing them to hit one another, while barely grazing Mahomes. Unbelievably, the flag came out against the Texans. “Oh, come on,” Aikman yelled. “I mean, he’s a runner. “I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit.” The three-time Super Bowl winner received a lot of attention for his thoughts on the standard of officiating in the game, and now he’s opened up about his calls and the reaction to his critiques. Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Aikman said: “I know the officials have a tough job. “The scrutiny that they’re under, as we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized.” Aikman then called for referees to get more calls right, citing the amount of money resting on the outcome of games and the huge sums wagered by gamblers. “And the game has not become less controversial. It’s become more controversial,” he went on. “But then I just think we are at a point, and this is tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services. Aikman wants to see refs get more calls right because of the vast sums of money on the lineGetty NFL fans think Mahomes and the Chiefs have been getting favorable calls for too longGetty “So here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they have ever before and those types of calls, there’s a lot at stake regardless, but especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well. “So, I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think that we are at a point and time where we can. We can get it more right. That was my position and just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address this in the offseason.’” Fans online caught wind of Aikman’s comments, and while they agree with the sentiment, they disagree with his reasoning. “I think they should focus on making the right calls for the sake of the game, not for those who gamble on it,” wrote one fan. Read More on Super Bowl LIX All you need to know about Super Bowl LIX as Kansas City Chiefs battle Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans Super Bowl LIX ticket prices surge with top seats selling for $20,000 more than last year Taylor Swift just one Chiefs win away from joining legends in rare Super Bowl club Controversial ref call that sent Chiefs to Super Bowl could lead to biggest rule change in NFL history Who is performing the Super Bowl halftime show and who will be singing the National Anthem? Why does Patrick Mahomes wear his helmet so high? FOLLOW – talkSPORT End Zone YouTube Channel brings you all the latest news, views and analysis OFFER – See all Super Bowl odds and bet boosts over at talkSPORT BET BUY HERE – Brewdog launches new beer to celebrate Super Bowl 2025 “No matter what the reason, I think they just need to make the right calls lol. It’s literally their job. Do you know any other job in America where you can make this many errors and have no repercussions?” said another “Could’ve just said “make better calls” I don’t know what gambling has to do with it,” added a third. Like it or not, gambling is a huge part of the NFL season, and in particular the Super Bowl. Every year, the American Gaming Association releases estimates on how much the US will wager on the Super Bowl. In 2021, that number was $4.3 billion wagered by 23 million Americans, according to ESPN. By 2023, it had jumped to 50 million people and $16 billion. Last year, it was 68 million people and $23 billion, a figure which is widely expected to go up again this year for Super Bowl LIX. One gambler has already placed $200k on Hurts and the Eagles to win Super Bowl 59Getty Super Bowl 59 takes place in New Orleans on February 9 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. We’re still over a week out from the game but there are already reports of huge wagers being placed on the outcome of the 2025 big game. According to Fox Sports, before the Eagles’ 28-22 divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Rams, one better wagered $200,000 on Philly to win the Super Bowl. If Jalen Hurts and Co. do manage to beat the Chiefs, the bettor w
Troy Aikman isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback turned NFL commentator didn’t hold back when it came to officiating the Kansas City Chiefs‘ divisional round win over Houston Texans.
There were several questionable calls that went in favor of the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, particularly when it came to roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness flags.
Aikman couldn’t believe one specific instance.
Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket, slowed down, waited for the defenders to get close, then slid down in front of the defenders, forcing them to hit one another, while barely grazing Mahomes.
Unbelievably, the flag came out against the Texans.
“Oh, come on,” Aikman yelled. “I mean, he’s a runner.
“I could not disagree with that one more. He barely gets hit.”
The three-time Super Bowl winner received a lot of attention for his thoughts on the standard of officiating in the game, and now he’s opened up about his calls and the reaction to his critiques.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Aikman said: “I know the officials have a tough job.
“The scrutiny that they’re under, as we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized.”
Aikman then called for referees to get more calls right, citing the amount of money resting on the outcome of games and the huge sums wagered by gamblers.
“And the game has not become less controversial. It’s become more controversial,” he went on.
“But then I just think we are at a point, and this is tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services.
“So here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they have ever before and those types of calls, there’s a lot at stake regardless, but especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well.
“So, I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think that we are at a point and time where we can. We can get it more right. That was my position and just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address this in the offseason.’”
Fans online caught wind of Aikman’s comments, and while they agree with the sentiment, they disagree with his reasoning.
“I think they should focus on making the right calls for the sake of the game, not for those who gamble on it,” wrote one fan.
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“No matter what the reason, I think they just need to make the right calls lol. It’s literally their job. Do you know any other job in America where you can make this many errors and have no repercussions?” said another
“Could’ve just said “make better calls” I don’t know what gambling has to do with it,” added a third.
Like it or not, gambling is a huge part of the NFL season, and in particular the Super Bowl.
Every year, the American Gaming Association releases estimates on how much the US will wager on the Super Bowl.
In 2021, that number was $4.3 billion wagered by 23 million Americans, according to ESPN.
By 2023, it had jumped to 50 million people and $16 billion.
Last year, it was 68 million people and $23 billion, a figure which is widely expected to go up again this year for Super Bowl LIX.
Super Bowl 59 takes place in New Orleans on February 9 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
We’re still over a week out from the game but there are already reports of huge wagers being placed on the outcome of the 2025 big game.
According to Fox Sports, before the Eagles’ 28-22 divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Rams, one better wagered $200,000 on Philly to win the Super Bowl.
If Jalen Hurts and Co. do manage to beat the Chiefs, the bettor will collect $550,000 in profit, for a total payout of $750,000.
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