The NFL released their officiating assignments for the AFC and NFC championship games on Tuesday. On the AFC side, we have Clete Blakeman. You know, just the guy who was at the center of the whole Deflategate scandal.

If there’s anything we’ve come to learn about New England Patriots fans over the years, it’s that they’re a well-measured, rational bunch. They’ll see Blakeman as a professional doing his job and won’t freak out about their 4-6 record in games officiated by him.

They won’t be mad. He did officiate last year’s AFC title game, after all. They won’t forget that.

Oh, wait …

So Clete Blakeman is officiating the AFC Title game between the Chiefs and Patriots. He was a major player in the deflategate charade. An anti-Patriots conspirator. The game has already begun and the Chiefs are winning it. Pats are gonna be playing 11 on 18 out there. — Teej (@TJCarpenterShow) January 15, 2019

If the NFL had an ethics panel, they would demand that Blakeman recuse himself from this game. https://t.co/BLrbLUEWRp — Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) January 15, 2019

Clete Blakeman is reffing this weekend?? YEAHHH OK — Micah Young (@MicahYoung54) January 15, 2019

Clete Blakeman, a ref who was part of the Deflategate testing process, will be reffing Patriots-Chiefs this weekend. OK, you have a legitimate gripe this time, Pats fans. That actually makes no sense. — 12up (@12upSport) January 15, 2019

Clete Blakeman is going to be the head official for the Patriots Chiefs game, so take all your money and bet it on the Chiefs. Sad day for Pats fans. — Jacob Gary (@MrSoFlyGary) January 15, 2019

I dare Goodell and Blakeman to try something again. #Patriots — Detroitfan40 (@detroitfan40) January 15, 2019

A legitimate question: If Walt Coleman never got another assignment for a Raiders game after properly applying a rule, why and how does someone intimately involved with the farcical DeflateGate testing process continue to get Patriots games? https://t.co/FDczNp29WO — Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) January 15, 2019

Pats seasons ends Sunday I guess https://t.co/8cdmBmtr2A — Bush-League Boss (@Holy_Warden) January 15, 2019

How is this possible? He’s the clown ref involved in deflategate. Does the NFL have an agenda this weekend? — TWM (@twm1254) January 15, 2019