NFL Blames Lions Not Refs

[TheMarathonContinues]

But you HAVE to tell them to correct it or you risk drawing a flag for using an ineligible receiver. If the Lions were the only people in the whole stadium that knew #68 was eligible then the play was illegal. Is that really difficult to grasp? You can't mask it or hide it from the defense. Period. That's the rule. If you try it and get away with it.. good for you but if you get caught man up and say we tried to trick the other team and it backfired. I'd have more respect for them if they just did that.

So let me get this straight you want them to come out admit they tried to be sneaky and trick the other team but you don't expect the refs to come out and admit failure?

Why is it black or white? Why didn't the refs and Lions screw up here?

 

[DripTooHard]

The ref reported the wrong number didn't he? They reported the wrong number due to the confusion. Which is why he was wide open.

And that’s why the play didn’t stand

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

But did 68 actually declare? He walked over there with 58? When asked if he declared, Decker said “I did what the coaches told me to do”

Interesting word choices…

Campbell said he reported but either way for arguments sake I'm sure there was some deceit.

Look, I'm not defending the situation. My stance is the ref screwed up due to the confusion of the Lions. But I don't think "confusion" is a legit excuse for a screw up is all I'm saying.

 

[Brax]

No you're wrong. Allen was not informed. He wasn't at the pregame meeting. And it was just exactly that..... deception and gamesmanship. It was cheating the Cowboys by announcing over the PA that #70 was eligible. No announcement of #68 was made. Can't cover a guy who's supposed to stay in and block

Well if he wasn’t eligible why wasn’t a flag thrown immediately when he was more than a yard down field, he was at least 8 yards past the LOS and ran a route.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

And that’s why the play didn’t stand

Right...but that's not how it should be. If a ref screws up that's on him. This isn't in defense to the Lions this is in defense of the Cowboys. If Micah is pushed in the back and hits a QB low and gets called for a roughing the passer that's a screw up by the officials for not seeing he was pushed in the back. Not Micah.

 

[DripTooHard]

Well if he wasn’t eligible why wasn’t a flag thrown immediately when he was more than a yard down field, he was at least 8 yards past the LOS and ran a route.

Yes they could have called several penalties on that play.

 

[SoupcanSam]

It’s looking like the ref got the wrong number but the nfl is really stretching it with the gamesmanship angle. This one that nobody is going to agree on. The good news is we should never hear from the refs are out to get Dallas crowd again . The funny part of the whole thing is Allen was informed about this very play and told Campbell he was good with it.

Regarding the comment about the refs should never be heard of being out to get dallas again...one phantom call does not do justice to the amount of times dallas has been on the opposite end of questionable calls thru out the years.

In fact, i am surprised to see a great amount of cowboys fans defending the lions.

I dont believe there was a single cowboys fan on this earth that could say they wernt shocked that call was made.

Losing a game that way has always been a "so cowboys way" to go out.

They have more than enough room to blame the refs in the future. And lets not think this is over with with the playoffs coming up. If the cowboys somehow get eliminated from the playoffs with a phantom call, everyone will say karma and call it even.

Imagine the anger if Washington somehow knocked dallas out of the two seed and questionable calls where associated with the outcome.

 

[BlueStar22]

The Lions tried to get too cute and got burned. Had three tries to just kick the XP and go to OT. A blown call against us is why we are there in the first place. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for them. We've been on the receiving end of those penalties too much.

 

[DripTooHard]

Right...but that's not how it should be. If a ref screws up that's on him. This isn't in defense to the Lions this is in defense of the Cowboys. If Micah is pushed in the back and hits a QB low and gets called for a roughing the passer that's a screw up by the officials for not seeing he was pushed in the back. Not Micah.

So you want the Cowboys to be on the hook for a ref screwup?

 

[CowboyStar88]

It's a penalty because they gave the right number and the official "ASSUMED" it was 70? I get you guys want to defend this because the Cowboys are on the right side of it but I'd be PISSED if the Cowboys did everything right and the refs screwed up by "ASSUMING".

How is sending 3 OL to the head ref to create confusion doing everything right? How is hearing 70 has reported as eligible over the PA and running the play anyways to an ineligible wr doing everything right?

I think what people are saying is quit absolving Detroit of blame, THEY screwed up just as much in this scenario.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Ronnie I agree but post game DC said he went over this play step by step with officials, I don’t think we will ever know the real story

DC also said you can’t have 2 players report as eligible. So did he send 2 players to report?

 

[Brax]

Yes they could have called several penalties on that play.

But they called none till way after the play, I think this is a big part of the problem if they are blatant penalties they should be called and 8 yards down field for a ineligible receiver is not hard to see

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I’m glad the play fell apart.

You do not want refs participating in pregame discussions of coordinating plays involving deception. It’s a slippery slope.

 

[DripTooHard]

Rational thinkers would correct the refs when they announced 70, but it was the Lions plan to use the refs to deceive the Cowboys.

 

[visionary]

The ref reported the wrong number didn't he? They reported the wrong number due to the confusion. Which is why he was wide open.

Yes and that is why the points didnt count

If there were no confusion for the refs , the Cowboys would know the right number and cover the player. Again no points

So either way no points
Why is this so difficult to understand

 

[Patrick]

This is still the dumbest **** because THEY LITERALLY ANNOUNCE THE PLAYER WHO CHECKS IN.

Why would you try and trick them when the refs are going straight to the D to tell them. It's idiotic. Campbell deserved to lose based on that alone, he was hoping the refs wouldn't notice and get confused, that's why the flag come so late, and that's why the Lions never said anything when it was announced #70 over the PA.

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

 

[CowboyStar88]

The refs knew the play prior to the game as Campbell stated, how did they cheat again???

Dan Campbell also stated you can’t send 2 people to report as eligible. So is that what happened?

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I guess 68 should have taken the refs mic and announced he's eligible himself then, right since the ref was incompetent.

Exactly

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Yes and that is why the points didnt count

If there were no confusion for the refs , the Cowboys would know the right number and cover the player. Again no points

So either way no points
Why is this so difficult to understand

Who said this wasn't understood? You're arguing point that was never argued lol.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I guess 68 should have taken the refs mic and announced he's eligible himself then, right since the ref was incompetent.

I guarantee you if it was the other side of the coin Cowboy fans would be crying just like the Lions are right now lol. But instead, taking this approach of "it's the Lions fault".....the officiating was trash and has been trash all year.