Maybe, but do the refs usually have press conferences after the game to go over missed calls, im betting they are under strict orders to say as little as possible so that the NFL can review and respond as they want to.
I think you're probably right that the refs messed up, but ultimately the refs screw up sometimes. If they spot the ball in the wrong spot, or the chains are showing the wrong down you typically stop the game and notify the refs of an issue so it gets corrected.
Good chance this is pretty accurate. Last thing the NFL wants is an official who doesn't speak to the media often to say something questionable that would add fire to the topic.
Do you remember the Dez no-catch? Gene Steratore was the ref. He got direct questions about Dez' movements and answered them with "yes" or "no, not a football move." Standard practice. And he didn't pull any punches because there was nothing to hide. Everything he was saying was backed up by the rules despite what you hear around here, lol. This ref avoided a question about the most important part of that reporting deal. Is that not suspicious?
this it was a bad plan to begin with.
Gene may have helped the league "Clearify" to the refs to not answer these questions after games..again thats speculation on my part but it seems like the smartest thing for the NFL to do.
Please give me an example when a Ref has answered a question on a controversial call?
As I said, someone on the sideline should have stopped the play once they heard. The players are busy trying to get their assignments correct. Goff is getting the play in his headset from the OC. You rely on refs to get it right. Of course they don't all the time and this was a case where that was true. They didn't follow their own rules to get a physical and verbal sign that someone was reporting (68 did, 70 did not), assumed, then the ref avoided a question about it after the game and that crew was relieved of playoff duties. Not great optics to be a ref defender here. And y'all say that I am all the time, lol.
Pretty sure they new the play as soon as they sent 58 and 68 to the ref. Play was known before the game, that is why they had a meeting before hand.
Lol. You're reaching. Only the crew chief answers questions after a game. But he got direct questions and gave direct answers. He knew there was a controversy and only spoke about rules on the books. He did not avoid like this ref did and then had the NFL swoop in with what the rules actually were which actually showed that they were not followed here.
Again ....... when coming onto the field ....... #70 did the signal that he was eligible and the ref pointed at him and they announced he was eligible.
well maybe i am reaching but there are very few times you see any ref answer direct questions after games and that example is many years ago, so kinda adds up to me. There are many examples of questioned calls during games recently and I dont remeber the refs comming out in a post game a giving answers.
I agree with at least one thing you said..." Hopefully"
It starts at the top
They tried to confuse Dallas and confused the ref's. So Dan's plan of confusion worked.
The rules from the NFL state that you need to do a physical and verbal sign to report. 70 says he did not say anything. 68 clearly says something and did a physical sign as well. Therefore, 68 met the rule. The refs did not follow their own rule. They also covered what they wanted to do with the ref crew before the game and then it turned out different once the game happened. Why can't you get that?
