The New Orleans Saints may have secured a win on Sunday, but they aren’t letting the officiating crew off the hook for a poor job calling the game. Several questionable penalties interrupted the flow of play throughout the afternoon, but none was more controversial than a phantom call against defensive end Carl Granderson for roughing the passer.
Granderson beat the New York Giants’ left tackle off the edge, crashing down on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart untouched and forcing him to the turf for a sack. He did not jump on Dart for emphasis nor make helmet-to-helmet contact. It was a clean play, yet the officials flagged him for a foul, costing the Saints 15 yards.
“I saw a sack,” head coach Kellen Moore told reporters after the game, expressing his frustration. Coaching a player to execute a clean assignment only to be penalized for it is disheartening. Moore wasn’t alone in his sentiment—many fans and members of the media covering the game criticized referee Alan Eck and his crew for the questionable call.
Had the call stood, Granderson would be leading the NFL with 5.5 sacks right now. Instead, he’s tied for third in a stat that directly impacts his career and livelihood.
Here are some of the reactions from around the NFL community on social media:
https://saintswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/saints/2025/10/05/saints-jaxson-dart-carl-granderson-roughing-the-passer-penalty-reaction/86536450007/
