{"id":72464,"date":"2019-09-08T14:39:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-08T18:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=72464"},"modified":"2019-09-08T14:39:50","modified_gmt":"2019-09-08T18:39:50","slug":"clay-matthews-targeted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/09\/08\/clay-matthews-targeted\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Clay Matthews Targeted Again in 2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Was Clay Matthews<\/a><\/strong> targeted by NFL refs and officials while playing in Wisconsin? <\/span><\/span><\/span>According to numerous fans, some media personalities, even ex-NFL football players, Matthews either had a target on his back while with the Green Bay Packers<\/a> or was made an example of by the league and allegedly after changing rules wording to fit the purpose. More importantly now, is Clay Matthews targeted today after changing teams and cities?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This will be a growing concern (putting it mildly) should the first three weeks of the relationship between Matthews and NFL refs in 2018 season be repeated. Los Angeles Rams<\/a> fans had reason to be distracted last year after the bar had been raised by the team’s first post-season in over a decade. But 2019’s expectations are considerably higher. Matthews out west is a big part of why that is. It’s probably wise to have that dialogue out on the table in advance. I’ll go first…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zebras, this is Los Angeles, not Green Bay, WI. <\/span>Are we going to have a problem?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Is Clay Matthews Targeted by Refs in 2019?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During a smack-talk based conversation with a friend in Appleton, WI following Week One’s opening game, a disturbing reference stung my eardrums:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Clay Matthews. Poster boy for roughing the passer.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Afterwards, I looked into it. Sure enough. It was, in fact, an actual ex-NFL linebacker who had first said this. Six-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl Champion ex-Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> linebacker, James “Deebo” Harrison<\/strong>. His meaning, the NFL wanted to make Matthews the primary example of what not to do. He was, after all, the perfect highly-visible superstar. Harrison himself had been the poster child for the excessive violence problems in the NFL. Now he was part of a growing number of ex-players now sounding off about how the league’s been growing soft.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By Week Three of 2018, many were indeed sounding off as social media began to blow up. Three weeks into the season and for the third straight week Matthews was getting called for roughing the passer. It was widely agreed that while he deserved Week One’s call, Weeks Two and Three were ridiculous. See for yourself:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Video sequence in order: Week One vs Chicago Bears, Week Two vs Minnesota Vikings, Week Three vs Washington Redskins)<\/p>\n