The ref had the best view ever and didn't call it, so I'll trust his judgment that it wasn't a hold. I would be a bit upset if the situation was reversed, but I'm willing to learn.

I found that play hilarious, though, because the defender was absolutely helpless. He was banging Donovan in the face (which seems like it should be a penalty) and still couldn't get loose. If Donovan didn't let go at the end of the play, the guy would still be out there on the field trying to get away.

Fair enough. We don’t need to hash this out on this one because it benefitted us and I really don’t care all that much, but I think we’d all be crying about how egregious a missed call this was if the roles were reversed.

In particular, this still highlights my thoughts. You can see #11 would have an unobstructed path to Mahomie here if Smith didn’t have him yoked up in a clear hold. He doesn’t rip or swim here because Smith has him cuffed lol I’ll give Donovan props for being so strong

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not directly in front. Johnson not giving up. <br><br>Issa hold <a href="https://t.co/kaqU9kOAlx">pic.twitter.com/kaqU9kOAlx</a></p>&mdash; Cowboys Due Diligence (@StevieJPTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevieJPTX/status/1708873517519814882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He could easily see Nnadi's hand slide off Hall's back and see Hall stumble down and forward.

How the hell could that have possibly looked like a horsecollar from where he's standing?

It's not a ****ing hold... it is actually legal under the rules... Stop already.

It really looks like a hold on the field, but if you look at the other angle, you can see that the defender's problem is that he got his left arm caught between Donovan's right arm and ribs. Donovan just clamped down and got the defender in an arm bar without holding him. The defender had no leverage and Donovan can lift a horse, so once that happened the defender was screwed. Donovan didn't even need to use his hands at that point, and the defender couldn't get away. So I wonder if the ref astutely saw that and recognized that it's not a hold even though it looks like there's holding.

Shit like that should be reviewable.

It's funny we had so much shit go against us but because Gardner got the hold penalty that's all anyone talks about.

Please no. Game is already slow enough. Dont need more commercial breaks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch Travis Kelce on this play. Twitter will not care about it. W <a href="https://t.co/Cj8ikGorBW">pic.twitter.com/Cj8ikGorBW</a></p>&mdash; Chandler (@_chandler_____) <a href="https://twitter.com/_chandler_____/status/1708778371876892938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Right - that arm bar is not strictly a hold and it will NEVER get called.

Well, except for when they called it on Trey Smith on an egregiously bad holding call prior to Saleh's temper tantrum.

You start calling holds for guys doing that to DEs who can't get outside the OTs body (especially when the OL is keeping his balance and directing the guy), you're gonna see a dozen holding penalties per game and/or a whole BUNCH of injured quarterbacks.

If that becomes a hold, the game becomes unwatchable.

Ha! Now that's just funny right there.

Dude is on the end of the line in the direct line of sight of the far official who's gotta be looking right at him - no flag.

Jets fans, and NFL fans, will never admit that the officials were just horrible. It’s always the Chiefs getting the calls their way. It’s never anyone else.

He saw his hand on the back. Probably thought it was inside the back of the jersey. Again, this is slowed down and the guy just called what he thought he saw.

It doesn't help that you have people like Charles Robinson saying it's bullshit Donovan Smith didn't get a hold on Mahomes scramble..

When anyone corrects him he unfollows them, no discussion no anything.

Same guy re-posted that last clip they showed last night:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They think this wasn’t a flag lmfao <a href="https://t.co/cEK9rVvfEG">pic.twitter.com/cEK9rVvfEG</a></p>&mdash; Chandler (@_chandler_____) <a href="https://twitter.com/_chandler_____/status/1708698376525447520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I mean that's a ****ing mugging. Still cracks me up that Saleh was weeping over that flag. I mean that's just mauling the dude.