Flopping, a tactic most sports fans associate with basketball or soccer, may soon become a talking point around the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has voiced his concerns on flopping in the NFL after a Texans player allegedly flopped during their week two showdown.
Once Chiefs rookie Tyreek Hill‘s kick return was called back due to a penalty, Andy Reid was stunned. The touchdown brought the Chiefs within three points of the Houston Texans, and was gone as quickly as it came. After the game, Andy Reid had a lot to say about the play. “(James) knew he was out flanked, so he literally flopped,” Reid said, via The Kansas City Star. “Nelson put his hands out, put him down and the kid just jumped into his body. Obviously from the official’s perspective it didn’t look like that.” Andy Reid is understandably irate. However, how does the alleged flopper feel?
Charles James, the player Andy Reid’s accusations are directed towards, doesn’t feel like he did anything wrong. To him, they’re playing football, and that’s how football goes.
Charles James on Andy Reid flopping accusation ‘I got blocked. This isn’t basketball. It’s football. You get hit’
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 20, 2016
Charles James is such a fierce competitor, intentionally flopping does not sound like him. Nevertheless, we cannot sweep Reid’s concerns under the rug. Whenever there is suspicions of any form of cheating, it needs to be addressed. The integrity of the game must be protected.
Andy Reid should know better than most that games aren’t won or lost on a single play. However, it is hard not to feel slighted when a call goes against your team. Whether you think Charles James flopped or not, I’m sure we can all agree on one thing: there is no place for flopping in the NFL.
