http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/ 15 Further review after further review by Gene Wang en Copyright 2009 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:54:37 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.2-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In a court of law, where the accused has the right to a fair and speedy trail, the actions of officials during Sunday's Washington-Dallas game wouldn't be tolerated. The call in question came at the end of the first half, when Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell was flushed out of the pocket on second down and one, ran for the sideline and released the ball before stepping out of bounds at the Dallas 25-yard line. Officials, however, initially ruled Campbell had stepped out of bounds before releasing the ball. Because the Redskins had snapped the ball from the 20, the result of the play was a sack. Then the Redskins failed to snap the ball before the play clock ran out on third down, drawing a delay of game and pushing them back to the 30. After officials assessed the delay of game, they halted play so the replay assistant in http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/delay-of-game-on-officials.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/delay-of-game-on-officials.html Refs Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:54:37 -0500 Rarely do officials make public statements about missed calls, but in Sunday's Dallas at Green Bay game, they did just that. What's more, referee Jeff Triplette conceded he had made a mistake. The call in question came with 12 minutes to play and the Cowboys trailing, 10-0. Quarterback Tony Romo fumbled on a blitz by cornerback Charles Woodson, and running back Felix Jones appeared to roll onto the ball for the recovery before defensive tackle Johnny Jolly ripped it out of his grasp. Linebacker Clay Matthews finally recovered at the 3-yard line, and the Packers scored soon thereafter for a 17-0 lead. Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips threw his challenge flag after the recovery, and officials began the review process. Turns out the challenge should not have been allowed in the first place because league rules stipulate recovery of a loose ball in the field of play is not reviewable. "It http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/jeff-triplette-wade-phillips-cowboys-packers.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/jeff-triplette-wade-phillips-cowboys-packers.html Refs Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:27:37 -0500 Officials in Sunday's Washington-Atlanta game called the Redskins twice for personal fouls after hits on quarterback Matt Ryan. While both infractions cost Washington 15 yards, only one appeared warranted. That was the call 50 seconds before halftime, when defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander got to Ryan -- who had gotten rid of the ball -- on third down and three. Alexander wrapped his arms around Ryan, and both players went to the ground. Officials called roughing the passer, based on what at the time looked like Alexander driving Ryan to the ground. But go around the league on Sunday, and I'll bet you'll see many similar plays officials deemed clean. In this instance, Alexander did not lead with his helmet. He did not toss Ryan down. The play in no way seemed malicious, yet officials called it as such. If falling on top of the quarterback were grounds for roughing, you http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/quarterback-preservation-goes-too-far-again.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/quarterback-preservation-goes-too-far-again.html Refs Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:13:17 -0500 Officials made one of the most puzzling calls of the season during Philadelphia's 40-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. Although the ruling did not directly affect the outcome, it provided yet another opportunity for football fans to debate questionable officiating and to wonder if replay really does make a difference. In case you missed it, quarterback Donovan McNabb fumbled as he was being sacked in the third quarter, and defensive tackle Fred Robbins picked up the ball and began running. After 11 yards, Robbins lateraled to teammate Osi Umenyiora, who ran the remaining 37 yards for a touchdown. Eagles Coach Andy Reid challenged the call that McNabb had fumbled, and after officials viewed the play, they determined while McNabb did indeed fumble, Robbins's lateral was actually an illegal forward pass. Thus the touchdown was overturned, and the Giants wound up with possession at the Eagles 42. That http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/a-giant-miss.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/11/a-giant-miss.html Refs Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:20:37 -0500 Most of the time an apparent missed call doesn't affect the outcome of a game directly. That wasn't the case in Sunday's Saints-Dolphins thriller at Land Shark Stadium. The Dolphins had built what seemed a comfortable 24-10 lead -- although virtually no lead is completely safe against the high-powered Saints -- when in the third quarter, New Orleans safety Darren Sharper intercepted Chad Henne and scored on a 42-yard return. As Sharper got inside the 3-yard line, he began to lose control of the ball. But officials ruled touchdown, an indication they believed Sharper had broken the plane of the goal line before fumbling out of the end zone. The Dolphins challenged the call, arguing Sharper lost the ball before crossing the goal line and that the play should be ruled a touchback. When they lost the challenge, the Saints had trimmed the deficit to seven, and they rode that http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/officials-fumble-this-call.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/officials-fumble-this-call.html Refs Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:31:49 -0500 Update: Dante Wesley suspended for one game by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Carolina Panthers special teams player Dante Wesley was at the center of controversy on Sunday after launching himself into Tampa Bay's Clifton Smith, leaving the Pro Bowl punt returner with a concussion. An official threw a penalty flag immediately after Wesley made contact with Smith, who walked off the field under his own power. Wesley was ejected for the hit, and the incident triggered a confrontation among players from both teams near the middle of the field before officials could restore order. What made the play completely unacceptable and indefensible was that Smith appeared to have called for a fair catch, and yet Wesley still found it necessary to leave his feet and lead with his shoulder into Smith's head and neck. "I felt like really the refs could have controlled that situation," Wesley told reporters after the http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/dante-wesley-clifton-smith-ejection-wang.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/dante-wesley-clifton-smith-ejection-wang.html Refs Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:38:00 -0500 If you don't believe bad teams tend to suffer the most from bad breaks, just look at what happened to the Washington Redskins against Carolina on Sunday. Nursing a five-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Redskins' Antwaan Randle El called for a fair catch on a punt. As he was getting set to catch the ball, Carolina's Quinton Teal blocked Washington's Byron Westbrook into Randle El, the ball bounced off Westbrook's foot, and Carolina recovered at the Washington 12. A clear case of interference on the kicking team, right? Most every Redskins fan watching thought so as they waited for officials to award the ball to Washington, which they did initially. Not so fast. After officials conferred, referee Walt Coleman changed the ruling and awarded possession to Carolina, which scored the decisive touchdown two plays later. "If they are both trying to block, then he can knock him into http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/bad-bounce-right-call.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/bad-bounce-right-call.html Refs Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:37:37 -0500 Roughing the passer is among the most hotly debated calls in the NFL. Defensive players will tell you the quarterback gets too much protection, and quarterbacks say they don't get enough. Sunday's Ravens-Patriots game illustrated that divide. Officials twice flagged the Ravens for roughing the passer, and both calls extended drives that led to New England touchdowns in the Patriots' 27-21 victory. After the game, Ravens players were predictably upset at the officiating. Linebacker Ray Lewis called it embarrassing to the game. Linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was assessed for one of the roughing calls, said the league is protecting some quarterbacks more than others. Brady defended the calls by saying quarterbacks are defenseless and unprotected in the pocket. Meantime, message boards were filling up with comments assailing the officiating and the perceived special protection superstars such as Brady receive from officials. What if it were some nondescript quarterback like David http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/tom-brady-ray-lewis-roughing-quarterback.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/10/tom-brady-ray-lewis-roughing-quarterback.html Refs Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:59:10 -0500 We all understand officials missing a call here and there during the fast pace of a pro football game. It happens all the time, and usually we don't give it a second thought. But when we're talking about a facemask infraction, it's different because that penalty could lead to serious injury. How many times have you seen a player's helmet get tugged and turned, only to cringe when you watch the replay in slow motion. It's amazing there aren't more neck injuries. During two games on Sunday, officials missed what appeared clear facemasking penalties. The first happened in the Redskins-Lions game, when Detroit defensive back William James grabbed Santana Moss's facemask. A similar scenario transpired in the Colts-Cardinals game, when Indianapolis safety Antoine Bethea grabbed Larry Fitzgerald's facemask while he was making a catch. Both wide receivers popped up after being tackled and turned to look for a flag. Who http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/facemask-lions-redskins-colts-cardinals.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/facemask-lions-redskins-colts-cardinals.html Refs Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:51:51 -0500 Pass interference may be the most dissected rule in the NFL. It's the only penalty that theoretically can cover 99 yards, and it can alter the complexion of a game in an instant. In the St. Louis at Washington game, officials were faced with a decision regarding contact in the end zone midway through the second quarter. To the dismay of Redskins fans, there was no flag, but by all accounts there should have been, if not for interference then at least for illegal contact or holding. On the play in question, Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El was trying to get open in the front right portion of the end zone as quarterback Jason Campbell was scrambling out of pressure. Campbell threw the ball well over Randle El's head, but before the pass, Rams cornerback Ron Bartell clearly was clutching Randle El's jersey in the end zone. After the http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/redskins-rams-pass-interference-randle-el.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/redskins-rams-pass-interference-randle-el.html Refs Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:38:16 -0500 Officials have one of the most thankless jobs in sports. They don't exactly find bundles of fan mail on their doorstep for making the right call, but when they get one wrong, boy do they ever hear about it. Just ask Ed Hochuli. Seattle Seahawks fans, for instance, are still steaming over the role they say officiating played in their loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XL. More often than not, officials have nothing to do with the outcome, and in many instances, they are the most sensible people on the field. Take Sunday's game between the Giants and Redskins. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/santana-moss-corey-webster-redskins-giants-refs.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/09/santana-moss-corey-webster-redskins-giants-refs.html Refs Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:54:56 -0500 Super Bowl XLIII was memorable not only for its riveting fourth quarter but also for a handful of critical officiating errors. One of the most egregious came immediately following Santonio Holmes's acrobatic, six-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left that gave Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory. We might as well start there since that play decided the outcome. Holmes did a nice LeBron James imitation during his celebration, using the football as a mock shaker and throwing imaginary powder into the air. NFL rules specifically state, however, that using the ball as a prop is prohibited. Holmes should have been assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and that would have impacted Arizona's starting field position on its final possession. Earlier in the fourth quarter, officials called Steelers linebacker James Harrison for unnecessary roughness when he made contact with punter Ben Graham. Officials said the contact took place after the change of possession, http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/02/super-bowl-blunders.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/02/super-bowl-blunders.html Refs Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:34:29 -0500 Officiating is supposed to get better as the games become more meaningful. The NFL does its best to try to ensure that by assigning the top crews in the league to the playoffs, so you'd think the conference championship games would be officiated cleanly and without controversy. That was hardly the case yesterday. Let's start with the AFC title game, where officials made some of the most egregious errors all season. With seven minutes to play in Pittsburgh's 23-14 win against Baltimore, the Steelers were punting on fourth down and 17 from their 34. Punter Mitch Berger fell as the Ravens' Daren Stone dove at his feet trying to block the kick. Stone didn't get his hand on the ball and landed harmlessly near Berger's plant foot. Officials didn't see it that way, calling Stone for roughing the kicker. The phantom personal foul forced Baltimore to start at its 14-yard http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/officiating-is-supposed-to-get.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/officiating-is-supposed-to-get.html Refs Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:42:25 -0500 The NFL playoffs are supposed to showcase the best in professional football, and that includes not only the games, players and coaches but also officiating. That certainly wasn't the case this past weekend, when two clearly blown calls unfolded before tens of thousands of spectators at LP Field and Giants Stadium as well as millions more watching on television. The first gaffe came late in Baltimore's 13-10 victory over Tennessee in Nashville on Saturday. After Ravens running back Willis McGahee ran for two yards, Baltimore faced third and two with just under three minutes to play. Then as Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was calling the signals before the snap, the play clock expired. Officials, however, did not call delay of game, and Flacco completed a 23-yard pass to tight end Todd Heap. Six plays later, the Ravens got a 43-yard field goal from Matt Stover for the final margin. "The http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/getting-it-wrong-playoff-edition.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/getting-it-wrong-playoff-edition.html Refs Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:46:09 -0500 No, you weren't imagining it. That was indeed Ed Hochuli officiating an AFC first-round playoff game between Baltimore and Miami. You'll recall Hochuli was the referee who all but cost San Diego the game in a 39-38 loss to Denver in late September by admittedly blowing a call. So what was Hochuli doing anywhere near Dolphins Stadium on Sunday? Turns out Hochuli and his crew, despite that memorable gaffe, were rated the league's best during the regular season and thus earned the right to call a playoff game. Amazing considering how much vitriol San Diego fans directed at Hochuli in the days following perhaps the most infamous missed call in pro football history. The call in question came with the Broncos at the Chargers 1-yard line in the final minute. As quarterback Jay Cutler dropped back to pass, the ball slipped out of his hand and bounced into the arms http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/redemption-for-hochuli.html http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/ratetherefs/2009/01/redemption-for-hochuli.html Refs Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:48:47 -0500