Second Thoughts

NFL's flags flying more than in past

NFL Coaches, like Miami’s Joe Philbin, haven’t seen eye to eye with officials as penalties have increased by more than two per game this season.
NFL Coaches, like Miami’s Joe Philbin, haven’t seen eye to eye with officials as penalties have increased by more than two per game this season.

NFL officials are on pace to call 4,139 penalties in 2014, which is up 2.1 per game from 2013, according to CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan.

On average, officials are throwing their flags at a rate of 16.1 times per game. In last week's game between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, officials called 21 penalties.

That seems like a lot, especially when you consider that, as Kirwan pointed out, "each penalty called takes about two minutes to be resolved."

"If 2014 finishes on its current pace, the additional 550 penalties called as compared to last season will consume close to 1,100 minutes -- or 18 hours of dead time -- during games on top of the normal penalty time stoppage," Kirwan wrote.

What draws the most yellow flags? Pass defense.

According to Kirwan, officials this season have flagged players 183 times for pass interference, 97 times for illegal contact and 86 times for roughing the passer.

"Pass interference is on pace to be less than last year, but illegal contact is on pace to be called 111 times or more than 2013-12 seasons combined," he wrote. "As for roughing-the-passer penalties, the league is on pace for 100 calls this season.

"Take a look at penalties like illegal contact, especially when both the receiver and defensive back are hand fighting, and let some things go before we all think basketball is more physical than football."

Top 10 Duck

Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota made an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday to read the host's long-running top 10 list after winning the award Saturday.

Mariota's version?

The Top 10 thoughts that went through Mariota's mind when he won the Heisman Trophy:

  1. "Can't believe I beat Meryl Streep"

  2. "This trophy will look great in my aquarium"

  3. "To heck with the NFL, I'm going on Dancing With The Stars"

  4. "Last Heisman winner from Hawaii? Don Ho"

  5. "Don't spike the trophy ..."

  6. "My general science major really paid off"

  7. "Maybe now the cheerleaders will notice me"

  8. "I'd like to play in the NFL. Does New York have any professional teams?"

  9. "Selfie!"

  10. "Heisman? Now that's mayonnaise"

Gluten for punishment

According to Arizona Republic writer Nick Piecoro, the Arizona Diamondbacks might have traded pitcher Wade Miley to Boston because he wouldn't give up gluten.

Miley admitted he didn't get off to a good start in his early years.

"My first couple of years going into camp, I hunted more than I worked out," Miley said.

After that, Miley said, he started paying attention to his diet and his workout regimen.

According to Piecoro, the part that bothers Miley is that he's weighed 220 pounds in each of the past three seasons, and it was only this year, when his ERA swelled by a run, that he started to hear anything about his diet.

"After a while, they left me alone," he said. "But it was always that elephant in the room."

Miley said he didn't want to go into specifics about his diet, but he made make a passing reference in his interview with Piecoro about not being gluten free.

"It might work for some people, but I didn't feel like it worked for me," he said.

Now he doesn't work for the Diamondbacks.

Sports quiz

Who was the last Heisman Trophy winner to play college football in the state of Oregon?

Answer

Oregon State's Terry Baker in 1962

Sports on 12/19/2014

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