What does Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold have to do for the National Football League to protect him?
Against the Los Angeles Rams, they refused to call a blatantly illegal facemask by edge rusher Byron Young but they did fine him the following Saturday. For a similar hit against the Indianapolis Colts, not only did they refuse to call it a penalty, but they didn't levy a fine.
NFL isn't protecting Sam Darnold
On the play that Darnold was strip sacked in the first half against the Colts by Grover Stewart, he wasn't fined nor penalized for hitting him in the helmet.
Not only was there no penalty called, the referees threw a flag believing they saw a penalty. They ultimately picked up the flag and it was a wild choice by the officials.
For whatever reason, Darnold hasn't been protected by the NFL or the officials over the last two weeks. What does he have to do for the officials to keep him safe? It's incredibly frustrating.
