Kevin O'Connell wants clarity from the referees: “Who looks at what?”

When Sam Darnold's helmet was ripped aside on the final play of Minnesota's game against the Rams on Oct. 24, referees claimed they were blinded by the obvious penalty. In the Vikings' Nov. 3 win over the Colts, the referees again said they did not see Darnold take a blow to the head on the play in which Grover Stewart forced a fumble that led to a Colts defensive touchdown had.

If no one sees the foul, did it even happen?

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell argued on the field about the blow to Darnold's head, but it was not allowed to be acknowledged. O'Connell has since learned that his opinion on what happened “doesn't really matter,” but he's still seeking clarity on the rules. On Wednesday, he explained what he expects from the league in terms of more clarity.

“All I know is what the rules say, and then you enter the world of fundamentals. Getting clarity on how things are governed, and what I mean by that is who looks at what? Who's really responsible for that call?” “Why did they say, 'Let's overturn the foul'? Was it someone else who came in on Sunday night and said, 'No, that wasn't a face mask?'” O'Connell explained.

“Then it’s the dialogue. My dialogue wasn't about face masks at all, and knowing that forceful contact with the head and neck area is now a verifiable thing, I just wanted to share that we might be able to figure this out together.” If that's the reason “Why we dropped the flag on the field, then it's just the basics of trying to get through it together in these moments.”

Everyone needs clarity about what types of forceful contact with the head and neck are testable.

Before the start of the 2024 season, the NFL Competition Committee expanded replay support to include passer routing. By the letter of the NFL rule book, O'Connell could have barked at the officials for days to review the blow to Darnold's head, but it wouldn't have mattered.

According to the rules, the replay official or members of the officiating team can only initiate a review for gross insult to the passerby if a flag has actually been thrown. The officials blamed the Colts for wearing a face mask, not for beating up Darnold, and so it wasn't up for debate.

Roughly hitting the passer is an offense only if a foul for roughing the passer is called based solely on a blow to the passer's head or neck area and there is clear and obvious video evidence that the defender did not make contact with the head or the passerby's neck had area.”

In other words, even if there is obvious video evidence of the QB being clocked in his head, there is no way to verify whether a flag was thrown organically by one of the officials. Had a flag been thrown for roughing, the Colts would have had every right to challenge the call.

Talk about a one-way ticket to madness. If the defense is caught punching an opponent in the head, they can be taken to court. If they are not caught in the act, they cannot be charged with the crime.

“We just had a few [non-calls] Lately and very early in the season it's just the clarity that gives you the opportunity to be a better coach and the only thing I want to do is figure out the information that I need to provide our players with that “I know how to play all of these things technically and fundamentally,” O'Connell said.