2010 NFL Week 8 Picks: The (2-4) Minnesota Vikings [+3] suffered a tough loss to their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, and Coach Brad Childress made it a point to vocalize his anger. Childress called Sunday night’s game “the worst officiated game I’ve seen,” after losing 24-28 to the Packers. But his words did not go unnoticed.
The NFL fined the Vikings’ coach $35,000 for criticizing officials as well as sharing conversations that were meant to be confidential between him and the officiating department. Among the calls that Childress was upset a
bout, included a replay reversal of a touchdown catch by tight end Visanthe Shincoe and a facemask call against Phil Loadholt.
The Vikings coach was also upset about the lack of calls, in particular not calling a hold on Jared Allen which in the end allowed Aaron Rodgers, Packers quarterback, to get a first down. But what may have cost them the game, was TE Shiancoe’s touchdown catch, which he dove for and grabbed in the end zone, but after a review was overturned. This affected Minnesota by having to settle for a field goal. “I was told this morning that that was a touchdown by Carl Johnson,” Childress said. “He was disappointed to see that reversed.”
The upset coach spoke to Johnson, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, on Monday, but for the NFL that is another mistake on Childress’ part. A spokesperson for the league said that the reason he was fined was “for violating long-standing league policies that prohibit public criticism of officiating and the disclosure of confidential conversations with the head of the NFL officiating department.”
This week, the Randy Moss will have his first opportunity to go up against his former team, as his Vikings visit the sports betting odds favorite (5-1) New England Patriots [-3] on Sunday afternoon.
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