Did the Lions get bent over by the refs? (1 Viewer)

[rockaction]

It was an insanely officiated game. And I stopped posting for a bunch of hours because what I was going to type was so offensive, I had to stop.

This was the same head official that did the StL/NYG game a few weeks ago, which descended into a barroom brawl. This guy is a joke. He needs to go. Terrible calls, terrible everything. They robbed an entire city and rewarded a putz. Good job done by the NFL this year, all around. If they keep this up, they'll lose people (yes, they will) like the NBA did. Nobody wants pro wrestling on Sundays. That's for extravaganzas beyond compare.

Good job, NFL.

 

[ghostguy123]

I didnt get to see the game, but only this particular play in question where they picked up the flag.

I don't think it was pass interference. You could actually make the case Pettigrew was pushing off (which I dont think should be flagged either).

But no, no PI. He was in terrible position, faceguarding, and not looking at all. However, ya need some contact for PI. If anything, Pettigrew initiated more contact.

Good no call.

I did hear about a lot of bad calls in the game, to that I cant say, didnt see it.

 

[DaVinci]

Pettigrew should have been flagged for illegal hands to the face.

 

[Aerial Assault]

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

 

[rockaction]

Pettigrew should have been flagged for illegal hands to the face.

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

The people the cover the NFL have pointed out four different penalties on the Cowboys on that one play.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

 

[rockaction]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

 

[rockaction]

See, you n00bs didn't even know it was coming. You just gave all your money to some dude. Then he went and stole it. That's so funny. It's like an internet meme about non-lawyers and bad advice.

Advice: always keep your brow arched, your ### up, and be willing to take whatever anyone gives you. Because that's the internet way. That's the way we do.

Hooah!

 

[BobbyLayne]

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

Hey, GB. How you feeling today?

GFY



For the record, it was defensive holding (grabbed and held jersey to the point it came untucked), DPI, unsportsmanlike conduct on Dez (helmut off, 20 yards on the field), and #### I don't know probably forceable rape.

But it wasn't the game. There was 8:25 left. Lions had their chances, didn't capitalize.

Cowboys? Lots of big plays. 76 yard TD on 3rd and 12, Dez had a 43 yarder after he stiff armed Levey, Murray got his TD on 4th and 1 (AFTER TD came off the board due to penalty, immediately after Suh stuffed him on third down), Bailey nailed a 51 yarder after missing from 41 earlier, Romo found Whitten on 4th and 6, and the Dallas O line bought him all kinds of time on the winning TD before the WR broke it off and got open.

Cowboys won because they made plays.

Want to win? Make plays not excuses. If one play was the game, then you didn't do enough to win the game on the other 120 plays.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

 

[Aerial Assault]

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

Hey, GB. How you feeling today?

GFY



For the record, it was defensive holding (grabbed and held jersey to the point it came untucked), DPI, unsportsmanlike conduct on Dez (helmut off, 20 yards on the field), and #### I don't know probably forceable rape.

But it wasn't the game. There was 8:25 left. Lions had their chances, didn't capitalize.

Cowboys? Lots of big plays. 76 yard TD on 3rd and 12, Dez had a 43 yarder after he stiff armed Levey, Murray got his TD on 4th and 1 (AFTER TD came off the board due to penalty, immediately after Suh stuffed him on third down), Bailey nailed a 51 yarder after missing from 41 earlier, Romo found Whitten on 4th and 6, and the Dallas O line bought him all kinds of time on the winning TD before the WR broke it off and got open.

Cowboys won because they made plays.

Want to win? Make plays not excuses. If one play was the game, then you didn't do enough to win the game on the other 120 plays.

Good post GB. I'm out of likes or I would love it. I thought the call was DPI at first for sure until I saw a couple of different angles.

I think you know I really like the Lions except for Suh. I agreed with Romo when he told Erin after the game that Detroit had the best defense the Cowboys had seen all year (since they got the Seahawks early before they gelled). I wish this win had been over the Eagles or some other odious team.

 

[rockaction]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

Yeah, I guess we have different standards of irony and arched-brow bull####. Unless somebody physically announced that in a thread, it plays off of Zangrilli, which is less than funny. But there are differing standards of humor. Making fun of people's legitimate anger don't seem like one.

 

[ghostguy123]

man, every thread is starting to suck around here

 

[Aerial Assault]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

Yeah, I guess we have different standards of irony and arched-brow bull####. Unless somebody physically announced that in a thread, it plays off of Zangrilli, which is less than funny. But there are differing standards of humor. Making fun of people's legitimate anger don't seem like one.

Not making fun of anyone's anger or questioning its legitimacy. I feel bad for Lions fans and wish the Cowboys had won without a lightning-rod call upon which people can readily focus their anger. I'm a lawyer that has been involved in putting together and defending class actions and I found the idea of suing over a picked up flag to be utterly flipping ridiculous, Zangrilli-related schtick or not, so I had to laugh. Sorry to offend.

 

[rockaction]

man, every thread is starting to suck around here

NOT ENUFF SHTICK?

 

[ghostguy123]

man, every thread is starting to suck around here

NOT ENUFF SHTICK?

Which thread has the GOOD shtick?

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

man, every thread is starting to suck around here

NOT ENUFF SHTICK?

You should mention again about the ref from the New York/St. Louis game a few weeks back. I think you have only mentioned it forty-six times. You should go for the even fifty.

 

[rockaction]

man, every thread is starting to suck around here

NOT ENUFF SHTICK?

You should mention again about the ref from the New York/St. Louis game a few weeks back. I think you have only mentioned it forty-six times. You should go for the even fifty.

Nah, twice. Tweece?

eta* And you should pay more attention to what I'm doing, frankly. Otherwise, I'm not sure I'd make it out with my ego intact.

 

[Capella]

I would imagine there will be a class action lawsuit by Lions fans here..

When I read that first sentence I thought there would be shtick to follow. But then he got serious.

 

[BobbyLayne]

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

Hey, GB. How you feeling today?

GFY



For the record, it was defensive holding (grabbed and held jersey to the point it came untucked), DPI, unsportsmanlike conduct on Dez (helmut off, 20 yards on the field), and #### I don't know probably forceable rape.

But it wasn't the game. There was 8:25 left. Lions had their chances, didn't capitalize.

Cowboys? Lots of big plays. 76 yard TD on 3rd and 12, Dez had a 43 yarder after he stiff armed Levey, Murray got his TD on 4th and 1 (AFTER TD came off the board due to penalty, immediately after Suh stuffed him on third down), Bailey nailed a 51 yarder after missing from 41 earlier, Romo found Whitten on 4th and 6, and the Dallas O line bought him all kinds of time on the winning TD before the WR broke it off and got open.

Cowboys won because they made plays.

Want to win? Make plays not excuses. If one play was the game, then you didn't do enough to win the game on the other 120 plays.

Good post GB. I'm out of likes or I would love it. I thought the call was DPI at first for sure until I saw a couple of different angles.

I think you know I really like the Lions except for Suh. I agreed with Romo when he told Erin after the game that Detroit had the best defense the Cowboys had seen all year (since they got the Seahawks early before they gelled). I wish this win had been over the Eagles or some other odious team.

Last night sucked and I didn't sleep much. After we held Dallas on the first possession of the second half after the turnover and Bailey's miss, and responded with a drive that put us up 20-7, I really thought it was our day. But after the "let's see if we can draw them offsides oh ####, well yeah, that never works" decision, and Sam Martin ####### duck hooked it into the pond when all he needed was a bogey on the 18th for a career low round, well #### i knew what would happen. I started doing year end work papers because I couldn't watch. The TV was 10 feet away but I didn't watch more than every third or fourth play, just listened, just knew what would happen, just sat there feeling doomed.

There's a litany of Lions losses that hurt worse. Hell, we're the only team to have a player die on the field, or have a Super Bowl winning HC die in training camp. I started following them in 1967 but not in earnest until 1970. 63 yard FG to a half-foot no arm kicker with a steel plate where his toes should be. Last minutes chip shot FGs blocked, easy FGs missed, giving up kickoff TD in OT, being embarrassed in the only NFC Championship appearance ever, losing 8 straight two years ago or pissing away 6 games in the last 7 weeks last year (led in the 4th quarter every ####### game). On and on and on.

I'm gonna go hand out commission checks this morning, tell my CEO I'm taking the day off, and then I'm gonna tell the world to #### off and get drunk all day. When I get done sleeping that off my awesome kids will still love me, I'll still have a good life, and I'll probably still be pissed off they managed to blow it again.

This is a good Lions team. Now we have a pretty modest history, but its the second most wins ever. Caldwell won more games than any rookie coach in Detroit (guy in Portsmouth matched it in 1931). Best defense we've ever had. I'm not a huge fan of Stafford but i'm proud of the way he played yesterday. Great effort all around, just wasn't enough. LIfe goes on.

Just once before I die mother####ers. Just once.

 

[Papa Georgio]

I thought it was PI and I was somewhat for Dallas.

Really just wanted to comment that just because a team fails to make plays of their own doesn't excuse a missed call. I hate the company line of "well we put ourselves in a position where a missed call could hurt us". The fact remains that missed calls or bad calls do change the outcome and a teams level of play does not excuse the refs mistakes.

This is more of a general comment and not about this situation specifically. What I do understand is that a team can not control the calls so a coach/team should only focus on the things they can control - their execution, effort, focus etc. Many factors in close games get you beat and sometimes a bad call is one of them.

 

[jon_mx]

I thought it was PI and I was somewhat for Dallas.

Really just wanted to comment that just because a team fails to make plays of their own doesn't excuse a missed call. I hate the company line of "well we put ourselves in a position where a missed call could hurt us". The fact remains that missed calls or bad calls do change the outcome and a teams level of play does not excuse the refs mistakes.

This is more of a general comment and not about this situation specifically. What I do understand is that a team can not control the calls so a coach/team should only focus on the things they can control - their execution, effort, focus etc. Many factors in close games get you beat and sometimes a bad call is one of them.

No doubt the Lions had opportunities to win still if they executed. That call was a big blow to the gut though. To throw the flag, announce it, then pick it up after the crowd reacts was one of the strangest actions I have ever seen by refs.

 

[[icon]]

I thought it was PI and I was somewhat for Dallas.

Really just wanted to comment that just because a team fails to make plays of their own doesn't excuse a missed call. I hate the company line of "well we put ourselves in a position where a missed call could hurt us". The fact remains that missed calls or bad calls do change the outcome and a teams level of play does not excuse the refs mistakes.

This is more of a general comment and not about this situation specifically. What I do understand is that a team can not control the calls so a coach/team should only focus on the things they can control - their execution, effort, focus etc. Many factors in close games get you beat and sometimes a bad call is one of them.

Good post here

 

[BobbyLayne]

Wiki is not a trusted source Timmay

 

[Tom Servo]

I thought it was PI and I was somewhat for Dallas.

Really just wanted to comment that just because a team fails to make plays of their own doesn't excuse a missed call. I hate the company line of "well we put ourselves in a position where a missed call could hurt us". The fact remains that missed calls or bad calls do change the outcome and a teams level of play does not excuse the refs mistakes.

This is more of a general comment and not about this situation specifically. What I do understand is that a team can not control the calls so a coach/team should only focus on the things they can control - their execution, effort, focus etc. Many factors in close games get you beat and sometimes a bad call is one of them.

No doubt the Lions had opportunities to win still if they executed. That call was a big blow to the gut though. To throw the flag, announce it, then pick it up after the crowd reacts was one of the strangest actions I have ever seen by refs.

Obviously you've never seen NHL refs no-call penalties against the Canadiens at Belle Centre. #MontrealTypical

 

[parasaurolophus]

I thought it was PI and I was somewhat for Dallas.

Really just wanted to comment that just because a team fails to make plays of their own doesn't excuse a missed call. I hate the company line of "well we put ourselves in a position where a missed call could hurt us". The fact remains that missed calls or bad calls do change the outcome and a teams level of play does not excuse the refs mistakes.

This is more of a general comment and not about this situation specifically. What I do understand is that a team can not control the calls so a coach/team should only focus on the things they can control - their execution, effort, focus etc. Many factors in close games get you beat and sometimes a bad call is one of them.

Did you think it also should have been called offensive PI or Illegal hands to face?

 

[the hairy scotsman]

One of the worst calls I've ever seen. I also can't recall a ref ever picking up a flag after announcing the penalty over the PA. I can't imagine how pissed I'd be if I was a Lions fan.

• Scoring 6 points in the last 48 minutes of the game
• Giving up a 76 yard TD on 3rd and 12 right before half
• DeAndre Levey missing the tackle on 3rd and 10 which Dez turnined into a 50 yarder
• Jim Caldwell not going for it on 4th and 1
• Sam Martin flat out choking with a 10 yard shank

The call is what it is. Part of winning has to be overcoming adversity. They lost because they didn't make enough plays. One play isn't the whole game.

Yeah good info. Still one of the worst calls I've ever seen.

Yeah. Just a horrible, horrible call and an unprecedented reversal after the announcement afaik. On the Dallas go-ahead TD there was also a missed call on obvious holding by the Cowboys' left tackle. Not sure how that gets missed right in front of the ref.

 

[Zow]

I would imagine there will be a class action

lawsuit by Lions fans here..

 

[Rick James]

https://mobile.twitter.com/PFF_Pete/status/551952991469961217

so? are we supposed to think a ref can't clearly see something that is 30 feet away?

 

[parasaurolophus]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

Yeah, I guess we have different standards of irony and arched-brow bull####. Unless somebody physically announced that in a thread, it plays off of Zangrilli, which is less than funny. But there are differing standards of humor. Making fun of people's legitimate anger don't seem like one.

If making fun of people's anger about a football game isn't something we can make fun of anymore, what can we make fun of?

Class action lawsuit talk about a football play is stupid. I could listen to an argument that making fun of somebody for being so stupid is off limits because that isn't a condition they control, but anger regarding it? Nope, that is legit.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

That BS acting job by the punter that gave the Lions a 1st down deep in their own territory after the Cowboys held them was more of a controversial call, IMO. He was yoking it up and slapping five after it was called. Total crap.

Wasn't it just running in to the kicker? Can't they basically call that any time someone runs in to the kicker? I thought for sure they would call it when the Det guy ran in to the Dallas kicker.

Was not roughing the kicker but running into the kicker and I've seen much worse examples where the flag is not thrown, like your second example above. I think the Lions' punter deserved an Emmy or Oscar or Tony or whatever the hell those acting trophies are called for flopping after getting grazed.

The 'Footy'

 

[Jules Winnfield]

(1) It wasn't DPI; it was faceguarding with minimal or no contact

(2) If anything, it was OPI and a facemask thrown in for good measure by Pettigrew

(3) The weirdness about the flag being picked up after Morelli announced the penalty on the PA was due to the NFL's insistence on having "all-star" hodgepodge crews who have not worked together all season do the playoffs; that wasn't Morelli's regular back judge or head linesman so they had a miscommunication

(4) The running into the kicker call on the Lions' punter was, as GM says, actually a worse call

Not one official saw Dez Bryant run on the field, ithout a helmet, to protest the call?That one is a huge miss.

Whether a PI call or not, that is a penalty

 

[Guest]

Doesn't matter if the original call was bad or not. Has anyone seen a flagged picked up after the penalty was officially announced?

Comparing that call to the running into the kicker is Pretty much textbook definition of the 5 yard variety. Defender ended up directly under the punter.

The outcome of the game is still on the Lions. They played poorly at the end, and Dallas made enough plays.

Class action lawsuit?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

It was clearly a horrible call, as was the non-call on Dez Bryant.

That said, the Lions still had lots of opportunities to win the game. Instead, their coach essentially quit by punting on the ensuing play. Let's all keep in mind that Jim Caldwell had a lot to do with the result.

 

[Tom Servo]

Can we move this BS to the Shark Pool? TIA. <_<

 

[MattFancy]

Doesn't matter if the original call was bad or not. Has anyone seen a flagged picked up after the penalty was officially announced?

This is my biggest issue as well. Calls get missed all game long in every NFL game. But for the ref to announce the call, move the ball and then to reverse the call with no explanation given, just seems off to me. I honestly can't say I've seen something like that before at any level of sports.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

To be clear, the issue I see is less to do with the "bad call" and the unprecedented methodology of its penalty and revocation of said penalty.

This is not merely a picked up flag, this is an entirely new means of managing your game.

Not sure what my vindication is in this scenario, if a lawsuit is filed, if it itsn't, I'll wear egg on my face, won't be the first time, won't be the last. My greater point is that it was an insanely brutal call.

But to take the standard by which you've set forth, are you stating there is no value in a sports victory to a town, state or provence? And if there is value, there is no responsibility or obligation by sports leagues to administrate their games in a fair and legal manner?

In my ceding defeat on this matter, let us take it a step further in a hypothetical... lets go with a circumstance (and for the hypothetical we are putting these conference opponents head to head in the super bowl)

-we are in the super bowl

-:01 sec on the clock, Lions are down 4, 8 yard line

-ball is thrown in the end zone

call is made, call is announced, flag is picked up, game is over.

There is no value lost in failed administration?

There is no value lost to teams in terms of real dollar value of having a super bowl winning team?

 

[the hairy scotsman]

Doesn't matter if the original call was bad or not. Has anyone seen a flagged picked up after the penalty was officially announced?

This is my biggest issue as well. Calls get missed all game long in every NFL game. But for the ref to announce the call, move the ball and then to reverse the call with no explanation given, just seems off to me. I honestly can't say I've seen something like that before at any level of sports.

Yes, it was VERY strange. I've never seen anything like that on any level, in 35+ years of watching football.

 

[McGarnicle]

Goodell probably has a direct line into the ref's earpiece. Obviously the league wants "America's Team" to progress as far as possible in the postseason. It's good for their brand. Why even play the game if you aren't going to call it fairly? Just give Dallas a bye. It's turning into wrestling, a complete farce of a sport.

 

[rockaction]

Uh, I seriously thought the class action suit was some fishing about Zangrilli.

I'll bow out of this. That's not what I was defending. That's, um, a touch litigious.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

To be clear, the issue I see is less to do with the "bad call" and the unprecedented methodology of its penalty and revocation of said penalty.

This is not merely a picked up flag, this is an entirely new means of managing your game.

Not sure what my vindication is in this scenario, if a lawsuit is filed, if it itsn't, I'll wear egg on my face, won't be the first time, won't be the last. My greater point is that it was an insanely brutal call.

But to take the standard by which you've set forth, are you stating there is no value in a sports victory to a town, state or provence? And if there is value, there is no responsibility or obligation by sports leagues to administrate their games in a fair and legal manner?

In my ceding defeat on this matter, let us take it a step further in a hypothetical... lets go with a circumstance (and for the hypothetical we are putting these conference opponents head to head in the super bowl)

-we are in the super bowl

-:01 sec on the clock, Lions are down 4, 8 yard line

-ball is thrown in the end zone

-player is "worse" than this, two players in isolation, defender tackles the offensive reciever

call is made, call is announced, flag is picked up, game is over.

There is no value lost in failed administration?

Coupon for a bag of doritos and a new remote to replace the one you smashed against the wall. Final offer.

 

[rockaction]

Oh, forgot

(5) Class action lawsuit

People getting their money stolen and hard work gone.

Pretty awesomely, ironically funny, no??!!!!

Not really, but the idea of some kook on the Internet announcing some made-up legal standard for a class action lawsuit based on a perceived bad call in a sporting event is.

To be clear, the issue I see is less to do with the "bad call" and the unprecedented methodology of its penalty and revocation of said penalty.

This is not merely a picked up flag, this is an entirely new means of managing your game.

Not sure what my vindication is in this scenario, if a lawsuit is filed, if it itsn't, I'll wear egg on my face, won't be the first time, won't be the last. My greater point is that it was an insanely brutal call.

But to take the standard by which you've set forth, are you stating there is no value in a sports victory to a town, state or provence? And if there is value, there is no responsibility or obligation by sports leagues to administrate their games in a fair and legal manner?

In my ceding defeat on this matter, let us take it a step further in a hypothetical... lets go with a circumstance (and for the hypothetical we are putting these conference opponents head to head in the super bowl)

-we are in the super bowl

-:01 sec on the clock, Lions are down 4, 8 yard line

-ball is thrown in the end zone

-player is "worse" than this, two players in isolation, defender tackles the offensive reciever

call is made, call is announced, flag is picked up, game is over.

There is no value lost in failed administration?

Coupon for a bag of doritos and a new remote to replace the one you smashed against the wall. Final offer.

I'll take it.

 

[Apple Jack]

Is there a rule against overturning calls after announcing them? If not, you're wasting your time. People are acting like it was changed after a play was run.

 

[McGarnicle]

Is there a rule against overturning calls after announcing them? If not, you're wasting your time. People are acting like it was changed after a play was run.

If anything is clear in Goodell's NFL, it's that rules don't mean ####. Make 'em up as you go, and feel free to make changes when convenient. He's even more incompetent and less accountable than Obama.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

This was a good no-call and I think its good to allow refs the flexibility to reverse themselves to get it right. They made a mistake by throwing a flag on that play, but they were able to correct the mistake by conferring and picking up the flag. I think that's a good thing. The fact is that we see flags picked up all the time in games - that's common - and there is rarely any explanation other than "no flag on the play." The difference in this case is that the ref announced a penalty, then changed his call without any explanation, but again I think it is always preferable to allow refs the opportunity to get the call right upon reflection. The problem on that play was execution by the Lions QB and WR. Stafford made a bad throw that had little chance of either being completed or drawing a PI penalty, and Pettigrew failed to attack the ball. If Stafford puts a little more air on the pass, its either a completion (and possible TD) or a penalty. As many have pointed out, if the receiver were moving toward the ball, or even trying to stop to catch the ball, he would likely have been impeded and drawn a legit flag. As for Dez Bryant, I heard on the radio this morning that refs don't typically flag players coming off the bench onto the field w/out the helmet on. That penalty is for players who are on the field and remove their helmets. In the Bryant circumstances, the policy is for the refs to first ask the player to go back to the sidelines, rather than throwing a flag.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Well, we can all agree was the best game of the weekend. Cowboys came back from 0-14 & 7-20, scored the last 17. One play shouldn't cheapen a hard fought win.

Detroit competed well. That's a measure of progress. It's a pretty inept franchise, and I was proud of Stafford, the defense, and...



Oh, #### off world! This one hurt. Bad.

 

[jfranco77]

Poll options should be

1. yes

2. I'm a Cowboys fan

 

[Aerial Assault]

Is there a rule against overturning calls after announcing them? If not, you're wasting your time. People are acting like it was changed after a play was run.

No, there isn't, and I tried to explain earlier (as have many commentators, so don't take my word for it) that the weirdness resulted from a miscommunication among the officials because they don't work together and don't know each other, due to the NFL's somewhat bizarre playoff assignment system for its zebras. Morelli got the call from the back judge (who threw the flag), either face to face or in his headset. The back judge then conferred with the head linesman (I don't know where the side judge, who works the same side as the HL, was on the play; I guess he must have been farther downfield watching another eligible receiver) and agreed to pick up the flag, but they either thought Morelli saw what they were doing or didn't act fast enough. So Morelli made the announcement although the flag had already been picked up, without knowing it. It was very unusual, sure, but it's really not that hard to understand how it happened. I clearly remember a Hochules game two or three seasons ago where Ed announced a penalty, then reversed it with a second announcement, but (a) it wasn't a playoff game, (b) Ed naturally offered a two-paragraph explanation for what happened, and ( c) no one cared.

As for Morelli not making an announcement that the flag was being picked up, I'm pretty sure he did, and the rest of his explanation after "there is no foul on the play" was drowned out because the crowd noise was deafening. Buck declared immediately that the flag was being picked up, so it evidently wasn't that hard to tell what was going on from the press box.

The Dez Bryant thing is pretty weak. It was a substitution period. People are acting like players coming on the field without their helmets to sub in never happens, but it does; it's just not usually captured by the cameras.

I completely respect the views of anyone who feels it was DPI even though I disagree, but some of the other stuff in this thread about this NEVER happening before, the Dez nonsense, "the NFL wanted the Cowboys to win" (which is news to Cowboys fans like me who haven't seen a lot of evidence of this alleged NFL favoritism with Dallas' one previous playoff win since freaking 1995), thoroughly-mapped-out class action suits, etc. is a bit surprising, not to say really dumb.

 

[Smack Tripper]

The league would also help itself if they held officials to the same scrutiny as players and coaches with respect to the media. To have written quotes from a pool reporter is just weak.

 

[rockaction]

Is there a rule against overturning calls after announcing them? If not, you're wasting your time. People are acting like it was changed after a play was run.

No, there isn't, and I tried to explain earlier (as have many commentators, so don't take my word for it) that the weirdness resulted from a miscommunication among the officials because they don't work together and don't know each other, due to the NFL's somewhat bizarre playoff assignment system for its zebras. Morelli got the call from the back judge (who threw the flag), either face to face or in his headset. The back judge then conferred with the head linesman (I don't know where the side judge, who works the same side as the HL, was on the play; I guess he must have been farther downfield watching another eligible receiver) and agreed to pick up the flag, but they either thought Morelli saw what they were doing or didn't act fast enough. So Morelli made the announcement although the flag had already been picked up, without knowing it. It was very unusual, sure, but it's really not that hard to understand how it happened. I clearly remember a Hochules game two or three seasons ago where Ed announced a penalty, then reversed it with a second announcement, but (a) it wasn't a playoff game, (b) Ed naturally offered a two-paragraph explanation for what happened, and © no one cared.

As for Morelli not making an announcement that the flag was being picked up, I'm pretty sure he did, and the rest of his explanation after "there is no foul on the play" was drowned out because the crowd noise was deafening. Buck declared immediately that the flag was being picked up, so it evidently wasn't that hard to tell what was going on from the press box.

The Dez Bryant thing is pretty weak. It was a substitution period. People are acting like players coming on the field without their helmets to sub in never happens, but it does; it's just not usually captured by the cameras.

I completely respect the views of anyone who feels it was DPI even though I disagree, but some of the other stuff in this thread (about this NEVER happening before, the Dez nonsense, "the NFL wanted the Cowboys to win" - which is news to Cowboys fans like me who haven't seen a lot of evidence of this NFL favoritism with our one previous playoff win since freaking 1995 - class action suits, etc.) is a bit surprising.

Ooh, now your positional points make more sense. Geezus...

BTW, I hope you take this the right way.