Mathias Kiwanuka: I Haven’t Been Held That Much Since I Was A Baby

Dec 11, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka (94) applies pressure to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) at Cowboys Stadium. The Giants beat the Cowboys 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The New York Giants were upset in the NFL season opener against the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 24-17. After the game, there was your typical “early in the season overreaction” from the fans and the media but they weren’t the only ones responding to the game and giving their opinion.

Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka spoke out on the game and didn’t seem pleased with the way things went down on Wednesday night.

“I haven’t been held this much since I was a baby,” linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka told Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger.

Kiwanuka’s comment was directed at the officials and, as we all know, the NFL was using replacement refs for the Cowboys and Giants showdown. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the replacements did a “more than adequate” job in their first regular season game.

“Our officials did a more than adequate job last night,” Goodell said. “I think we’ve proven we can train officials, get them up to NFL standards, and we’ve done that in a three-month period. These officials will get even better as time goes by. The game is not going to stop.”

While Kiwanuka initially took a shot at the refs, he backtracked and stood up for the replacements.

“You’ve got to understand that these refs have been put in a tough situation, without having weeks, months, years to prepare like the other refs had,” he said. “It’s definitely tough to come in and pick up the nuances of the NFL. I tip my hats to them, but you notice when the real refs aren’t out there.”

Overall, the officials had a solid showing. The real story was the Giants pathetic performance on the offensive line and their inability to stop Cowboys starter Tony Romo.