Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo furious with NFL denial of Chiefs favoritism conspiracy: 'Sports fans are smart'

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was furious with the NFL’s denial of favoritism towards the Kansas City Chiefs in terms of penalty calls.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell already called it a “ridiculous theory.” So with that, Russo fired back on Wednesday’s edition of First Take.

“Scott Green, the head of the NFL officials, the union president, basically saying that anybody who thinks there’s a conspiracy with the Chiefs and penalty calls and everything else doesn’t know fanny from their elbow,” Russo said. “It’s insulting, you know, Scott Green, here’s the quote about the fact that you know, 17 games, all these officiating crews and the scenario that Kansas City doesn’t get a break with the calls and Goodell said the same thing. ‘Why? You know, what a joke. How could anybody make a big deal about the calls?’ Well, I make a big deal about the calls because …

“I’ve been doing this for 55 years. You want to talk about calls and about the Chiefs getting calls in a postseason? Well, let’s take a look at this little graphic.” 

Russo, after struggling to get his glasses on during the segment, rattled off the stats about the Chiefs, penalties and favoritism.

“Kansas City in the last nine playoff games, do you know there have been 11 unsportsmanlike conduct penalists on the opponent and only two on Kansas City,” Russo said. “Did you know the total penalties in their last nine playoff games are 66 against the opponent and 36 against Kansas City? Did you know that defensive pass interference or holding penalties? 11 to one. Did you know that their last 11 playoff games, 10 of the 11 times the opponent has had more penalty yards than the Chiefs, for crying out loud. 

Chris ‘Mad Dog Russo’ fires back at alleged Chiefs’ favoritism

“And you’re going to sit there and tell me that the Chiefs, I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy, but if you’re Scott Green and you’re Goodell, you’re gonna sit there and tell me that we look at this equally? How can you say that? Look at these? I mean, we could go show these all night with these penalties against Houston, the unsportsmanlike conducts, the late hits.”

That’s when Russo rattled off the greats in football and other spots. Many and benefactors of the doubt due to their stature in the game as individuals and teams.

The Chiefs aren’t the first and they aren’t the last. That’s where Russo had a problem with the denial.

“And you’re gonna sit there at Scott Green and Goodell and tell me, ‘Well, you know, it’s got nothing to do with it.’ Come on. Jordan got calls. LeBron gets calls. Gretzky got calls. Barry Bonds got strike stone calls. Randy Johnson got the benefit of the doubt. Greg Maddux got it. All great players and teams get breaks,” Russo said. “And for Green and for Goodell to sit there and not acknowledge that is a complete utter disgrace. We’re not stupid. Sports fans are smart. They’re sophisticated. 

“I can tell you chapter and verse of how Kansas City has gotten every break known to man.. They’re a great team and Mahomes is great. But 66 to 36, 11 to one in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, that says it all. It’s embarrassing what Green and Goodell did this week.”