Shannon Sharpe is uninterested in Troy Aikman’s recent concerns about NFL officiating. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Monday Night Football analyst is enjoying his “give no f*cks era,” according to Awful Announcing’s Sean Keeley. He is candidly expressing his views from ESPN’s broadcast booth, even if that means criticizing the league and its officials.
Aikman shared his thoughts on the SI Media with Jimmy Traina Podcast, expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of officiating. While he acknowledged the challenging role officials play and the scrutiny they face, he emphasized the need for the NFL to address enduring issues, particularly in light of gambling partnerships.
“Here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they ever have 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, I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right and I think we’re at a point in time where we can. We can get it more right. So that was really my position in just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address it in the offseason.’”
However, Sharpe was not impressed with Aikman’s comments, expressing his disdain during his Nightcap show with Chad Johnson. “Now, all of a sudden, Troy wants the refs to be perfect,” he remarked. “Troy, were they perfect when you played? Bro, y’all need to stop. ‘There’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls. I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think we’re at a point in time where we can.’ So, we gonna get every call right?”
Sharpe’s primary concern? The already lengthy nature of NFL games. “I don’t want no four-hour game(s),” he explained. “So, you want to stop and make everything reviewable? How long you think the game’s gonna last? Think about when they challenge something. They go to commercial. They’re going to get at least three commercials off.” The former Denver Broncos and Baltimore tight end continued his critique, pointing out Aikman and other former players’ tendency to act as if officiating was flawless during their time.
“But if we think for one second that every official in every sport is going to get every call right, you’re delusional,” Sharpe asserted. “Troy knows damn well people gambled on the game when he played. They didn’t get every call right. It’s impossible… There’s no such thing as ‘Guess what? We got every call right in the game.’” He highlighted that even in games with commendable officiating, the league later acknowledges missed penalties such as holding, tripping, or facemask violations.
Officiating has always been flawed. “You know what it is?” he asked. “Now, Josh Allen, their fan-favorite, didn’t get to go [to the Super Bowl]; Patrick Mahomes [is] going again. Now it’s an issue…” Sharpe believes the outrage surges only when the NFL’s prominent players are affected. He perceives Aikman’s concern over officiating as more of a convenient outrage than a genuine crusade. “I just hate this pandering. I hate this pity party for Josh Allen,” he added.
Yet, it’s worth noting that Aikman’s outspokenness regarding officiating lapses isn’t a new phenomenon. Since transitioning from Fox to ESPN, he has become increasingly vocal about the ongoing issues. Regardless, Sharpe regards Aikman’s latest observations as somewhat “delusional.”
