Troy Aikman doesn't like what he's seeing in the NFL these days.
Speaking Wednesday on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, the Hall of Fame quarterback didn't hold back when asked if poor officiating has become an issue with referees missing calls or getting calls wrong.
"At a time when the league and sport is trying to do all that it can to get the calls right, there's more controversy than there's ever been before," Aikman said. "I've never been a fan of instant replay. I didn't like it when I was playing and I didn't like it when it returned when the votes were made years ago to make instant replay part of our game. I just think that for the most part, the officials were doing a good job, there were times when I was impacted by the wrong calls and there were times I benefited from the wrong calls. I think over time, it evens itself out."
Added Aikman: "The scrutiny has never been as intense as it is right now."
Aikman's comments come after the Saints found themselves on the wrong side of yet another botched call during Sunday's game against the Rams, which the former Cowboys quarterback called with fellow commentator Joe Buck.
In the rematch of last season's NFC title game, officials took away 15 seconds from New Orleans near the end of the first half while the Texans had an 11-point lead. Saints quarterback Drew Brees passed to receiver Michael Thomas for a gain of 17 yards with 48 seconds left, but that was initially called as short of a first down.
While it wasn't nearly as costly, Aikman considered it equally disturbing.
"I don't know how they correct it because I think in a lot of ways it's hard to go backwards. Instant replay is definitely a part of our game. I don't think we can ever just not have that. But we keep adding things to it. In addition to that, we keep adding player safety rules, which I'm all for player safety, but it's hard, it's become really hard to call a game. I'm sure it's maddening to watch a game with all the penalties. It's rare that a play happens when there isn't some kind of penalty that's thrown. It's nauseating from my perspective and I don't think anyone, I don't think those in the game like it and I certainly don't think the fans like it."
According to NFLpenalties.com, officials have called 622 penalties (9.72 flags per game) through the first two weeks of this season, which thus far is up from 2018 (7.62 per game) and a significant increase from 2009 (6.64 per game).
Aikman and Buck will be back in the broadcast booth to call Thursday's Titans-Jaguars matchup.