Full statement http://m.deadspin.com/5946249/heres-the-nfls-official-statement-on-the-refereeing-cluster**** Do you blame the NFL for standing by their replacement refs? If they come out and try to overturn the call they usurp any authority the replacement refs have.
Photo Shopped look at the stupid ball flight. Drops like a UFO or something all the sudden. It was good on the real film just over the upright to the inside.
That's the thing. The side judge called it a TD and the back judge called it a TB. There was never any conference among them and the referee to determine what the actual ruling on the field was prior to going to instant replay. I guess my main complaint is that these officials don't know the rules or follow any consistent protocol.
Vegas has reported that over $300M had changed hands based on the outcome of the bad call. Bookies made $150M of that....amazing to think a book is offering a refund. Wow. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/vegas-books-300m-changed-hands-165810375--nfl.html
Back judge didn't signal touchback, he signaled time out (time has run out) I think. Touchback involves only one arm.
Per the rule book (not that it matters with replacments..hahaha).....he signaled Touchback and in essence change of possession and what should have been end of game for GB victory. http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/signals/6 TIME OUT: Hands crisscrossed above head. Same signal followed by placing one hand on top of cap: Referee's Time Out. Same signal followed by arm swung at side: Touchback.
In this instance, the WHITE HAT referee failed in his job and responsibilities to check with both officials one that signaled TD and the other that signaled Touchback and find out who had the better view and better opinion. As White Hat Referee it was his responsibility to talk to both and get a better understanding of why two different calls and signals were given. He failed to do that and simply ran over to the replay area for basically no reason with no context. Both refs were late in their assignments to get onto the scene fast enough too.
Yea, he signaled time out like I said. He never did the one arm wave that I saw, which would signal a touchback.
They recalled the TD due to the fumble. But they couldn't determine possession once the ball was out because a certain Steelers fan blew the play dead prematurely. In short, Pittsburgh got the ball at the 1 and scored. Just a case of a ref seeing what he wanted to see.
No, he swung both arms...he waived them multiple times, and all media heads and ex-heads of officials have said he signaled touchback....not sure about the one arm issue....frankly its possible he doesnt even know how to signal properly (one arm or two). LOL. Bottomline is he signaled something different than TD. One official signaled Touchdown, and the other waived his arms multiple times...thats not a TIME OUT signal. They screwed it up and were not in agreement of the call.
