Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was merely attempting to tackle a sliding Marcus Mariota in the team’s game against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.
Unfortunately, the rookie first-round pick from Boise State fell victim to yet another horrible call from NFL officials. This time, he was called for unnecessary roughness, giving the Titans an automatic first down.
Check it out below.
https://twitter.com/TheFakeESPN/status/1059650854213476353?s=20
We’re not really too sure what’s Vander Esch should have done there. He had no opportunity to avoid Mariota as the quarterback slid. Should he attempt to change the space-time continuum?
The Twitter world pretty much agreed that it was a horrible call.
That personal foul against Leighton Vander Esch is about as bad as it gets. If a QB is going to be protected when he slides he needs to make up his mind before a defender is within 2 steps.
When the QB is in the pocket, I get it… but that, was an AWFUL call.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) November 6, 2018
Jason Garrett talking to referee Clete Blakeman during this timeout. Sure he's arguing the penalty on Vander Esch.
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) November 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/UWBio/status/1059650009895825408?s=20
Call on Vander Esch 🤬 pic.twitter.com/wzg5nVtI2w
— Matt Hamilton (@Matt24Hamilton) November 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/3YearLetterman/status/1059650306244534273?s=20
There was literally no way Vander Esch could’ve avoided contact there. Awful!
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) November 6, 2018
Flag on Vander Esch for playing football.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) November 6, 2018
Hard to know what Vander Esch could have done different/better there.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) November 6, 2018
Luckily for the Cowboys, Tennessee missed a field goal later on the drive in an attempt to improve off a 21-14 lead. Either way, it was yet another bad call from the officials in a season that’s been filled with them.