Craig Carton, host of The Craig Carton Show on OutKick, stated that the NFL must interview Chicago Bears defensive back Malik Muhammad after a strange sequence of events in the team's Thursday night game against the New England Patriots. Carton argued that Muhammad's actions during a critical play late in the first half raised enough questions to warrant an official investigation.
The incident occurred when Patriots running back Rhamondre Stephenson caught a screen pass at midfield. Stephenson carried the ball 48 yards for a touchdown as the first-half clock expired. While the touchdown itself was a significant play, Carton focused on Muhammad's reaction. Instead of attempting to tackle Stephenson or closing the gap, Muhammad turned and ran in the opposite direction of the ball carrier.
Carton described the moment as a major miss that fueled suspicions among those skeptical of legalized sports wagering. "What Malik Muhammad does next is why every single person that is against legalized wagering thinks the fix is in," Carton said on Friday's edition of the show. He noted that rather than stepping into the hole to make an attempt, Muhammad literally ran away from the play.
The Bears ultimately won the game and covered the spread, so the play did not alter the final result. However, Carton emphasized that the timing and nature of the miss on a Thursday night broadcast make it particularly noteworthy. He asserted that there was no logical or reasonable explanation for Muhammad's movement, such as expecting Stephenson to cut outside. By running away, Muhammad opened up a seven-yard gap that allowed the touchdown to be scored.
Carton called for the NFL to sit down with both Muhammad and Bears head coach Ben Johnson to demand an explanation. He stated that the league needs to question both men about why Muhammad was moving away from the ball carrier. Carton maintained that no sensible reason exists for such a defensive lapse on a play of that magnitude.