Vikings’ Zimmer: Ref said NFL wants more flags

Vikings’ Zimmer: Ref said NFL wants more flags

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer maintains that a referee told one of the Minnesota players last week that a penalty was called merely because of the NFL’s desire “for us to throw the flag.”

Speaking Thursday on KFAN’s “X’s and O’s,” according to ESPN.com, Zimmer said the league’s new emphasis on flagging dangerous hits caused a questionable call Sunday against Andrew Sendejo. The Vikings safety was penalized for hitting a defenseless receiver after a third-quarter tackle on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams.

Adams caught a pass and was hit by cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Sendejo came in to assist as Adams lowered his head, and Sendejo’s helmet struck the side of Adams’ helmet.

“It’s very difficult for a defender — really playing defense, nowadays,” Zimmer told KFAN. “(Sendejo) said (to the ref), ‘What could I have done different?’ (The ref) said, ‘You did everything right. You couldn’t have done anything different. They just want us to throw the flag.’ “

Zimmer added that he only learned of the exchange a day after the Vikings and Packers played to a 29-29 tie.

The coach asked the NFL for its interpretation of the play but said he had yet to receive a response as of Thursday. NFL spokesman Michael Signora told ESPN that the league would have no comment on the situation.

–Field Level Media

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