Raiders coach Hue Jackson rips refs

Updated: November 21, 2011, 12:10 AM ET
ESPN.com news services

MINNEAPOLIS -- Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson says he has held his tongue long enough when it comes to NFL officiating.

Williamson: Easy There, Hue

Hue Jackson should stick up for his team, but he can't make a habit of calling out the refs, ESPN.com's Bill Williamson writes. Blog

Jackson ripped the officiating crew on Sunday after the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-21 to improve to 6-4 on the season. Jackson says he "truly felt like it was a little unfair" when it came to some of the plays his team was flagged for in the game.

The Raiders were penalized 12 times for 117 yards. Four of those penalties were personal fouls for hits deemed illegal by referee Jerome Boger's crew.

"I know everyone says we're the most-penalized team in football and that's a fact, and I'm not running from that," Jackson said. "But there's no way, some things that happened today on that football field, I question. I just do, and I have to, and I'm going to defend my team. It's time that I do that."

Jackson says he feels it's time to stand up for his players. He says he will contact the league office on Monday to discuss some of the calls.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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