Dean Blandino is not a referee, but is a comedian

[nathanlt]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...edian-dean-blandino-one-most-powerful-men-nfl
ESPN has the story trying to build up Blandino, yet they admit he was a comedian, and has never been a referee, EVER.

I'm not making this up, Dez's catch was overruled by a comedian, who didn't properly apply NFL rules, and has never referee'd a game.

STUNNING.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

ESPN has the story trying to build up Blandino, yet they admit he was a comedian, and has never been a referee, EVER.

I'm not making this up, Dez's catch was overruled by a comedian, who didn't properly apply NFL rules, and has never referee'd a game.

STUNNING.

More like a clown.

What I find interesting is why does a NFL referee have to have a twitter account? Is he looking for attention?

 

[bark]

No one is laughing dean

 

[mugsybows]

Ben from Ben and Skin said he told him he knew he wanted to get into the NFL somehow so he applied for an internship with the refs association and got it and then before he knew it he was in charge.

it's also interesting to point out that the NFL denied a interview with Blandino by ESPN for the article. hmmm

 

[Longboysfan]

Ben from Ben and Skin said he told him he knew he wanted to get into the NFL somehow so he applied for an internship with the refs association and got it and then before he knew it he was in charge.

Great. Maybe he can apply to take over the Giants.

 

[Hoofbite]

Ben from Ben and Skin said he told him he knew he wanted to get into the NFL somehow so he applied for an internship with the refs association and got it and then before he knew it he was in charge.

Looks like he started in 94 and worked his way up including 2 stints as the director of officiating.

I'm not sure what would make a person qualified for VP of officiating but working for 15 plus years in the officiating department sounds like a solid background to have.

 

[links18]

The fact that the NFL has league officials sitting in New York meddling with calls on the field in a playoff game is a total embarrassment to the integrity of the game--more so that deflategate IMHO.

 

[mugsybows]

interesting quote:
"I think it started out that they absolutely loved having him in there," says a former official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "And my understanding [now] is that the animosity is starting, because he's having to make the tough decisions and he is a company man and he's not siding with the officials. The officials kind of feel that, 'Well, you've never been on the field.'

Also grew up in a house hold of big time Giants fans.

 

[brymatt94]

"Because of the unique nature of the business, NFL officiating is sort of a fraternity. It's a brotherhood of men who are ordinary during the week -- working as lawyers and accountants."

That's the problem with NFL officials right there.

 

[theogt]

To get Blandino's thoughts on this -- or what runs through his head in the days leading up to the Super Bowl -- is a challenge. The NFL denied an interview request for this story, which seems sort of odd. In a season in which commissioner Roger Goodell has largely gone underground, Blandino has been one of the most visible faces of the league office. He's on TV constantly, explaining a rule, diffusing a controversy or backing up one of his refs.

This is something I've noticed. In years past, you'd be lucky if you knew more than a couple ref's names. Today, they are front and center, almost spokesmen for the league. It's bizarre. I don't think it serves to take away heat from the refs like the NFL probably thought it would. Rather, when they open their mouths, it confirms what we all really knew all along -- that they're just making most of this up, particularly with the judgment calls.

 

[Carolina Cowboy]

Come on guys, we know he's a comedian. He has his own hit series and has made several movies .... JACKASS.

 

[ConstantReboot]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...edian-dean-blandino-one-most-powerful-men-nfl
ESPN has the story trying to build up Blandino, yet they admit he was a comedian, and has never been a referee, EVER.

I'm not making this up, Dez's catch was overruled by a comedian, who didn't properly apply NFL rules, and has never referee'd a game.

STUNNING.

He maybe a comedian....but overruling the catch by Dez is no laughing matter. The only thing funny about this is that he has made himself and the NFL look silly.

 

[Don Corleone]

Looks like he started in 94 and worked his way up including 2 stints as the director of officiating.

I'm not sure what would make a person qualified for VP of officiating but working for 15 plus years in the officiating department sounds like a solid background to have.

Mafia connections can help one get promoted quickly.

 

[percyhoward]

He's a PR guy, nothing more. His skill is to control how the public talks about a given event or issue, and he hit a home run with this one. He got most of the football-watching public debating football moves and discussing one specific rule. He reversed a call on the field that he had absolutely no business reversing, and then defined the public debate mostly by keeping the focus off that call and on the rule.

 

[theogt]

He's a PR guy, nothing more. His skill is to control how the public talks about a given event or issue, and he hit a home run with this one. He got most of the football-watching public debating football moves and discussing one specific rule. He reversed a call on the field that he had absolutely no business reversing, and then defined the public debate mostly by keeping the focus off that call and on the rule.

Agree completely. Constantly repeating that it's just a technicality makes people want to look smart and agree that it was the correct ruling based a "technical" reading of rule, regardless of whether the technicality was appropriate applied.

 

[nathanlt]

He's a PR guy, nothing more. His skill is to control how the public talks about a given event or issue, and he hit a home run with this one. He got most of the football-watching public debating football moves and discussing one specific rule. He reversed a call on the field that he had absolutely no business reversing, and then defined the public debate mostly by keeping the focus off that call and on the rule.

You are so right. He really takes the focus off his Giants fandom, too.

 

[nathanlt]

Agree completely. Constantly repeating that it's just a technicality makes people want to look smart and agree that it was the correct ruling based a "technical" reading of rule, regardless of whether the technicality was appropriate applied.

Right on. People want to look smart, and so he wants to make the foolish decision look like only the brilliant can understand it.

He is tampering with the outcome of the game, I'll never be convinced otherwise.

 

[percyhoward]

Go to 7:55 of the podcast.

Listen to the bomb that goes off when the radio guy starts to talk about the ruling on the field.

interviewer: A lot of smart football people are saying "No, no, no that's a catch," and other people have their own opinions. It should have stayed with what the official called on the f--.

Blandino: (interrupting loudly) And, and, and I think that's a good point. We look at it as...there wasn't any question in our mind that he was going to the ground and then you apply the rule...uh...how it's been written and he basically has to hold on to the ball throughout that action of contacting the ground and I think it's something that, after the Calvin Johnson play in 2010...(disjointed ramble continues)

The best non-violent way to shut someone up is to interrupt them by saying you agree with them. Once he snuffed out the talk about the ruling on the field, he could go on to shift the discussion back to the rule. There were about two seconds when Blandino was on the ropes, but the interviewer backed off and listened -- spellbound -- to the expert's explanation of some complicated rule that would surely demand his careful attention.

Dude's an artist. It's like watching Hendrix at Woodstock. But this person has no business being a major part of the end of an NFL team's season.

 

[LandryFan]

He's a PR guy, nothing more. His skill is to control how the public talks about a given event or issue, and he hit a home run with this one. He got most of the football-watching public debating football moves and discussing one specific rule. He reversed a call on the field that he had absolutely no business reversing, and then defined the public debate mostly by keeping the focus off that call and on the rule.

Perfectly stated! I have been saying that from the beginning. If those asking him questions focused on asking what evidence he used in overturning the call on the field even though the league stated at the beginning of the year that an emphasis would be placed on not overturning calls without irrefutable evidence, he would have no valid answer. As for Dez making a football move, he was asked about that once, that I recall, and he glossed over it by saying that Dez indisputably did not make a football move and went right back to the "catch process" BS. He's like a magician using slight of hand diversionary tactics by focusing on the "catch process" and most people, even "professional" mediots, are falling for it. It's sickening that this amateur is in the position he is in.

 

[Seven]

This IS thee most embarrassing NFL season, as far as officiating, in the history of football. Period.

They have guys, not on the field, at the ready, giving their interpretation.

Peoria is doing commercials for Christ's sake.

It couldn't get worse for football, IMO.

There isn't a big enough rag to wipe all the egg off their face.

Where's Goodell all in all this?

Friggin joke this entity is.