It became a pretty common scene in the Packers‘ exhausting 28-21 win over the Bears on Sunday in Week 14. Star pass-rusher Micah Parsons would find an edge, begin to disrupt the Chicago backfield and before he could make his final move toward quarterback Caleb Williams, would find himself held back by the meaty arm of an offensive lineman with his arm circles around Parsons’ neck.
Parsons had a good day rushing the quarterback on Sunday, but he was unable to get a sack, mostly because he was so frequently held. On the Bears’ final drive of the game, which ended in an interception by Keisean Nixon in the end zone on a fourth-down play, Parsons appeared to be held twice, on both second and third downs. Parsons could be seen holding his arms in the air as if to ask the referees why they were not throwing flags.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur, it turned out, had much the same question.
Packers’ LaFleur: ‘I Don’t Know’ Why Micah Parsons Holds Were Not Called
Speaking after the Packers win, which moves them atop the NFC North at 9-3-1, LaFleur said watching the calls made on Parsons–or not made, in this case–had him questioning the nature of holding in the NFL in general.
“I guess I don’t know. I don’t know,” LaFleur said, at first treading lightly when talking about Parsons and a lack of flags. “But there was one that certainly was questionable to say the least. Apparently, the officials disagree, so it is what it is. So you’ve got to continue to strain and fight and try to get to the quarterback.”
Referees Frustrated Packers
LaFleur had multiple impassioned chats with the referees during the Packers win, and there’s little doubt that the way Parsons was being handled was among the bones of contention. But LaFleur did not get specific on what was said.
He did, however, deliver a jab at the officials.
“I am not going to get into what we were talking about,” he said. “Officials, I don’t think that their jobs are easy by any stretch. I think it is a difficult job. I guess I don’t know what holding is anymore because I thought that was pretty clear, a clear and obvious hold. I guess I don’t know what that means.”
GettyPackers coach Matt LaFleur spoke about the lack of calls for Micah Parsons.
Micah Parsons Accustomed to a Lack of Calls
In the Packers locker room, Parsons was more nonchalant. He’s in his fifth season and he says he has gotten accustomed to referees ignoring those instances when he gets wrapped around the neck.
“That’s been the definition of my career, always fighting through—I am a smaller guy and I think they realize that,” Parsons said. “I got an advantage on the defensive side. I play with great leverage and am able to get under peoples’ arms. But the rule book is they gotta be in the chest area and I’m just not getting grabbed in the chest area, but like I said there’s nothing I can do about it, I just gotta keep fighting through it.”
It was pointed out that Parsons was grabbed around the neck more than once.
He nodded and said, “That’s not in the rule book at all.”
