Geno Smith tried to plead his case late in Sunday's Seattle Seahawks-Detroit Lions game, and the referee wasn't just not having any of it, but offered up one of the best hot-mic moments you'll hear.
Smith was flagged for intentional grounding, and of course vehemently disagreed, and tried to argue the call while referee Alex Kemp was announcing the penalty.
"Hold on, I'm talking to America," Kemp told an aggravated Smith for all of Ford Field and anyone watching at home to hear.
Pete Carroll is HEATED after an intentional grounding call ? pic.twitter.com/7zM2PSYCgm
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 17, 2023
It appeared that Smith was trying to let Kemp know that his intended receiver ran the wrong route, and the play shouldn't have been flagged as a result.
Kemp, Smith, and America were fortunate that there wasn't any profanity exchanged in the disagreement.
Meanwhile, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was also livid over the call, but had the courtesy to argue his case to the side judge, who wasn't on an open microphone.
But, Smith would ultimately wind up having the last laugh, because three plays later he found wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to give the Seahawks a 24-21 lead.
Smith completed 26-of-34 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown, while adding three rushing attempts for 20 years, through the first four quarters of the game.
Seattle was looking to avoid falling to 0-2 on the young season, on the heels of an embarrassing 30-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams to open the season. The Lions, though, were looking to build momentum and improve to 2-0 after going into Arrowhead Stadium and knocking off the defending Super Bowl champions in the 2023 regular season opener.
The game wound up going to overtime, after the two teams played to a 31-31 tie at the end of regulation, inside a raucous — and sold out — Ford Field.
