Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, has been especially outspoken in his defense of Blakeman and in his call for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
Reid, who is renowned for his cool-headedness, voiced his full support for the referee and emphasized the value of justice and due process.
His remarks have given the case a fresh angle and sparked conjecture about whether the sentence was meted out too soon or whether there is more to the case than has been made public.
Blakeman, a seasoned NFL referee who has officiated important games for years, has not yet responded to the accusations in public.
His suspension begs the issue of how the league will respond to future allegations of official misbehavior and the effect it will have on officiating crews. The NFL’s move comes at a time.
When officiating is under more scrutiny than ever before, with fans and commentators often denouncing contentious decisions that have the potential to affect game results.
