Steve Smith is an outspoken individual. This is great for those of us who cover the daily happenings of the NFL for a living. It's not so great for Dan Ferrell.
Ferrell served as an umpire in the Carolina Panthers' 22-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Smith is unhappy officials didn't do more to curb Arizona defenders from their hyper-physical play in the game, saying the coverage crossed over to "molesting."
"I got a (pass interference) penalty, which is very interesting," Smith said Monday, via The Charlotte Observer. "I got leg-humped and hugged a few times. Being a pretty good flag football player, I think I got my flag pulled on my jersey a few times. I would say pretty much, I take that one on the chin and just say it was me. I've got to play better."
Smith said he engaged Ferrell after Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson used Smith's jersey to "slingshot" himself toward a pass deflection. No flag was thrown, and Ferrell told Smith the contact wasn't enough to merit a flag.
"It was pass interference in Mexico, Europe, rugby -- in pretty much every other sport but in Arizona yesterday," Smith said. "But then when I pushed off, it was pass interference."
Smith clearly doesn't care if his comments draw a fine from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"To be honest, I make enough money where if Roger wants to fine me, he can," Smith said. "But I really think that referee probably was the sorriest referee that I have ever met."
"When I dove for the first down (and) he was standing right there, he didn't even acknowledge -- he received a check that day and I hope he feels good. He was terrible. He was garbage."
(Cut to Dan Ferrell, alone in his study, iPad in hand, a single tear rolling down his cheek.)
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