PFT: Del Rio whining about ref's behavior

[Hawkeye0202]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...teratores-smirk-after-first-down-measurement/
Jack Del Rio did not appreciate Gene Steratore’s smirk after first down measurement
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 18, 2017, 6:39 PM EST
When referee Gene Steratore ruled that the Cowboys picked up a crucial first down on Sunday night, it was so close that he pulled out a slip of paper to see if there was any space between the ball and the stick marking the line to gain. As he stood up to signal a Cowboys first down, he smiled about the unusual situation.

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was not amused.

“How you can look at that then get up with a smirk?” Del Rio said today. “I don’t know. That’s hard to take.”

Although Steratore wasn’t quite as demonstrative as umpire Leslie Nielsen calling strike three in The Naked Gun, he did seem to be enjoying the moment at a time when Raiders fans were understandably upset about what they thought was a bad call going against them.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Whatever, Jack. Whatever.

 

[DenCWBY]

I don’t blame him a bit.

 

[mrmojo]

That ref was entertaining last night...

 

[RamziD]

I wish someone would speak to Gene and ask him if he was measuring for the first down with the piece of paper or checking the angle of the ball. It feels like the media is running with the former just because it makes a better story.

 

[Swanny]

I don't understand how some guys don't realize that this (the nfl) is in business to entertain.

 

[Qbert]

He should be more upset his QB was a bonehead and that cost him the game more than the 4th down spot

 

[Irvin88_4life]

He should be more upset his QB was a bonehead and that cost him the game more than the 4th down spot

Somebody should show him the reply where Dak was clearly pass the first down

 

[bsbellomy]

Even if they had called him short you'd like to think they'd see Dak lunge past the first on replay

 

[JW82]

I don’t blame him a bit.

Agreed if that was a game changing call against us and the ref was smirking i’d want to stab him.

 

[JoeKing]

The irony of the moment was not lost on Steratore. The last time he refereed a Cowboys game he was ruling on the Dez catch no catch playoff game. Cowboys fans have given him hell every since. Now here he was giving them good news.

 

[DFWJC]

I don't understand how some guys don't realize that this (the nfl) is in business to entertain.

The refs are not supossed to be part of the entertainment.
That is a given

 

[JohnsKey19]

I actually agree with Del Rio here. Cowboy Nation would be apoplectic if that clown smirked while ruling in favor of the Raiders.

 

[TheDuke]

these refs today bring too much of their personality to the game anyways. starting to be like umps in basesball. they think people are there to see them.

 

[dwreck27]

That ref was entertaining last night...

Last time I checked this game is about entertainment. Some how it’s morphed into activism and side shows with political nature

 

[chagus]

Welcome to our world, Jack.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

It was very unprofessional by the ref.

 

[big dog cowboy]

 

[lostar2009]

Can Jack get over this and move on? This team had its share of bad calls. If anything get mad at your qb for dropping your game.

 

[AzorAhai]

I wish someone would speak to Gene and ask him if he was measuring for the first down with the piece of paper or checking the angle of the ball. It feels like the media is running with the former just because it makes a better story.

He was asked and he said it was just a reaffirmation of what they had already decided. In other words, he did it simply to put on a show and you could tell with the smirk. Multiple smirks actually. That wasn’t the first call he had that grin.

Edit: quote for context

“I didn’t use the card to make the final decision. The final decision was made visually. The card was used nothing more than a reaffirmation of what was visually done. My decision was visually done based on the look from the pole,” Steratore said after the game.

http://raiderswire.usatoday.com/201...ratore-opens-up-after-index-card-shenanigans/