NFL Blames Lions Not Refs

[Philmonroe]

It’s not my PoV it’s just what I think the Lions were doing. Because the only thing that makes sense to me why the would do what they did is if they were trick everyone including the refs. It worked. What I don’t think they planned for was being called for a penalty for eligible receiver.

I don’t argue they had blame in this I just don’t think saying the refs were confused is a legit reason to say the refs don’t deserve their share of blame. This all comes from incompetence in officiating.

I don’t care if the ref were confused or not Det knew who the play was going to so correct the ref. If you don’t you run the risk of what happened happening. All this other stuff is victim junk.

 

[gimmesix]

It came out that Allen was not part of this meeting with the Lions where they talked about this play. I would think the head ref and guy who generally calls that penalty should’ve been involved with that meeting. I think that led to DC frustrated you can’t have 2 report as eligible statement. As it was Allen who told him after the penalty you can’t have 2 guys report. I think if Allen was involved from the get go at that meeting he tells DC thats a no-no. I think it’s an odd argument. So they expect the refs to recognize late in the game that THIS was the play the Lions were talking to them about earlier in the week? With Allen having no knowledge. Someone has to take some responsibility here.

I think it's interesting that it is being reported that the reporting protocol is both telling the official you are reporting and making a swiping motion up and down the front of the jersey. I think that's actually a good idea because it helps avoid mistakes like this one. It also shows (if the reporting protocol is correct) why what Detroit did was wrong, since Decker reported verbally and Skipper reported nonverbally. I do think you are right that that's what Campbell was referring to. Maybe Skipper took it upon himself to give the non-verbal cue to try to further fool the defense, but if it is part of the reporting protocol, then I can't blame the official for taking it to mean that Skipper was reporting. I don't know why he only announced Skipper, but maybe he thought Decker was reporting Skipper when Skipper gave the non-verbal cue.

 

[Pantone282C]

I don't think the fact that he didn't talk to Allen means that Campbell didn't talk to the officials about it. I'm not willing to say he lied. He could have thought whatever he did pregame took care of it and he just turned out to be wrong.

According to Rex Ryan, this is done formally prior to game time. He infers that refs blew it somehow.
My viewpoint - the eligible player should have reported, but instead, there were two and then three players out there. Deceptive attempt on their part? If so, it backfired.

 

[rambo2]

If this is the case then why is the NFL punishing their game officials???? I guess they want their cake and eat it too......LOL!

The tripping call has something to do with it too.

 

[gimmesix]

It's unclear that the official was "confused".
What's clear is that there was a failure to communicate.

He was confused as to what Detroit wanted him to understand. Doesn't mean he was wrong, so I agree that there was a failure to communicate.

 

[TheHerd]

Agreed. There are missed calls all the time, but to make a call on the completely opposite team is on another level. Honestly, I think that is worse than the 2 point conversion mishap.

Far worse.

 

[rambo2]

the nfl will never admit that there is a problem with there officiating.

The nfl has added to the problem too by telling them to let the holding go and letting pi go at times.

 

[TheHerd]

I don’t care if the ref were confused or not Det knew who the play was going to so correct the ref. If you don’t you run the risk of what happened happening. All this other stuff is victim junk.

Exactly. The ref very clearly announced 70. That is not up for debate. 70 can’t be covered after that. Detroit heard it too, and elected to not correct it.

 

[Pantone282C]

That’s the part I don’t know. Was the plan for them to get confused or call the wrong number or did they hear the wrong number and thought they got one over on them.

At any rate, it sure sounds like the Lions were trying to pull a fast one, and were hoisted on their own petard!

edited

 

[CowboyStar88]

I think it's interesting that it is being reported that the reporting protocol is both telling the official you are reporting and making a swiping motion up and down the front of the jersey. I think that's actually a good idea because it helps avoid mistakes like this one. It also shows (if the reporting protocol is correct) why what Detroit did was wrong, since Decker reported verbally and Skipper reported nonverbally. I do think you are right that that's what Campbell was referring to. Maybe Skipper took it upon himself to give the non-verbal cue to try to further fool the defense, but if it is part of the reporting protocol, then I can't blame the official for taking it to mean that Skipper was reporting. I don't know why he only announced Skipper, but maybe he thought Decker was reporting Skipper when Skipper gave the non-verbal cue.

I really think this centers around the 2 players reporting eligible and how they have to report, and actually not being allowed to have 2 reporting. I really think Det thought they got some type of confirmation that this was allow, and so when they announced only 70 they still thought they were in the clear as they though at least Allen acknowledged 70 and 68 as eligible.

 

[Stash]

Yes their fault. Trying be sneaky. Backfired. Good.

This is the fact of it.

They thought they were going to pull a fast one and skirt the rules and it blew up in their faces.

 

[gimmesix]

They *should* change the reporting rules to prevent such "miscommunications".

Should be a request by the HC to the side judge, which then is announced to the stadium.

None of this multiple players running around the ref.

I would note that they initially said they weren't going to change the rules on the UnCatch too. And then they did. They will here too. Saying that they aren't changing the rules is just a way to double down on "not our fault".

Well, if the requirement is a verbal indication, such as "I'm reporting," along with a visual cue, swiping your hand up and down the jersey, I can see why they might think that's enough. However, I would at least add in telling the official your number. "68 reporting," then the swipe.

The fact that 68 seems to have only said he was reporting and 70 did the swipe would make Detroit at fault if both are part of the protocol for reporting.

 

[Pantone282C]

I don’t care if the ref were confused or not Det knew who the play was going to so correct the ref. If you don’t you run the risk of what happened happening. All this other stuff is victim junk.

How do they know that they need to correct the ref? I'm not sure how this protocol works.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Defeated? Who is even saying that? Not me. And we don't know if it was a missed call or not. Seems like it was a reporting scheme by Detroit, but a legal one. And it's completely possible the refs messed it up. Were you or anyone else present with Detroit staff to know they didn't have a meeting with refs prior to the game to know that Campbell was lying? Have refs themselves said he didn't bring up the topic with them to even bring up the possibility it was a lie? Or is this what you're supposing because it would be convenient?

Allen wasn't at any meeting, Ogre said he was.

 

[fairviewfarmer]

They could’ve just ran an actual play and scored. That was an option too

They could have just kicked a PAT and went to Overtime too. Jmo.

 

[Pantone282C]

The NFL rules are governed by fools.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The NFL is being immature about this but typically they always do when it comes to officiating. At the end of the day he made an error. A mistake. No shame in making a mistake. It's when the NFL doesn't own up to it and in this case just making excuses. Lions tried to get cute and sneaky and it screwed them but it's not their job to officiate the game. They got screwed. That's become a part of the NFL though.

I don't cry for them because you make your own luck. You threw 2 interceptions. You didn't play well. Had you played better you wouldn't have needed that 2 point conversion that you didn't even need to begin with. Your coach could've bailed out and calmed things down but stuck with wanting to go for 2.

Yup, and, with them trying to get too cute there, all I can say is play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[rambo2]

Exactly. The ref very clearly announced 70. That is not up for debate. 70 can’t be covered after that. Detroit heard it too, and elected to not correct it.

It's interesting that ESPN didn’t play the audio which was available to them and heard clearly on the radio. They also didn't play the replay on the bogus tripping call and then went on to go anti Cowboy and poor Lions on their post game show.

Their coverage was terrible and obviously biased.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

At any rate, it sure sounds like the Lions were trying to pull a fast one, and were hoisted by their own petard!

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

 

[MarcusRock]

Allen wasn't at any meeting, Ogre said he was.

No, he didn't. Campbell's quote was: "I explain everything pregame to a tee, OK? I did that .... "

So how is he lying?