Taylor Decker reporting his eligibility to the refs

[RoboQB]

Yeah it may well be that #68 actually was the one who said "report" but the other two morons being over there muddied the waters and the refs thought it was #70 talking to him because .. you know .. 95000 screaming fans.. Like I said I think the Lions tried to get cute and got caught..

I concur.

 

[gimmesix]

Why does 70 run up to the ref before the play? Clearly they were trying to "trick" Dallas in some form or fashion and they blew it.

Right. I could see something coming out of this where they say only the player reporting needs to come up to the ref. There's a lot going on and refs don't know these linemen's voices, so just saying "Report" with several linemen around the ref makes it hard on him to know who said it. Whether they were trying to trick Dallas or not, they clearly tricked the ref.

 

[Roadtrip635]

I think this is where players need to realize that there is a lot of noise and a lot going on. You can't just say, "Report," and move on if there are multiple linemen around the official because he may look up and see a number and think that is the player who reported, which is apparently what happened.

Yep, it's up to the players/team to be clear with the officials. A coach throws a challenge flag, he has to make sure the officials are aware of the flag, call a TO, you have make them aware of it. A few years back, on the road, it was too loud for audibles and Romo was having to use hand signals to change the play and one of the signals was similar to a TO signal and the ref called it, even tho that's not what he was trying to do. The Lions were trying to be sneaky and not clear on their intentions and trying to be sneaky there seems odd since it will be reported to the defensive captain anyway. It's not a hurry up play where you hope to catch the defense disorganized.

 

[Big_C_KU]

Right. I could see something coming out of this where they say only the player reporting needs to come up to the ref. There's a lot going on and refs don't know these linemen's voices, so just saying "Report" with several linemen around the ref makes it hard on him to know who said it. Whether they were trying to trick Dallas or not, they clearly tricked the ref.

Yep. When the ref officially announces it overheard that #70 is the one eligible the Lions need to hear that and correct the ref or change the play. There was still 25 seconds on the play clock. From that point on it’s on them.

 

[Nav22]

Where is @Nav22 refs are out to get us conspiracy thread this week?

You can't read, and that's on you.

 

[Adreme]

Clearly? Clearly to who? You have sound to back up this claim? Share it and we shall all bow to your greatness. Did #58 ALSO report eligible since he went over there too?

The blindness here is staggering. The ref screwed up. I get you desperately want that not to be the case because the refs making a huge mistake in favor of the Cowboys does not fit your worldview. The problem is that your worldview is wrong and you cannot make peace with the fact that the refs screwed up. I get it. It is hard to accept that the refs screw up for other teams and there is no grand conspiracy but in this case the Cowboys got lucky and won the game off of the screwup. We have seen those mistakes also go the other way. Denying reality is just one of those weird quirks that I just do not understand about fandom.

Do you think denying an obvious reality doesn't seem foolish? This reminds me of when there were Rams fans swearing by the fact that the no call on PI was correct. We all saw that it should have been called though and so they just looked foolish. We all saw it. Now maybe he was just there to talk about the weather. Just like the guy in the stolen car just happened to accidentally get in the wrong car and drive it. Both are equally ridiculous claims but you seem to want to argue the former.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Who is to blame? Goff.

Have to try and be sneaky about your eligible man because you don’t trust your QB to make the play. LOL

Campbell learned from his mentor. Wasn’t it Parcells that had the classic play of the guy that would fall down and then get back into the play?

Only difference is no way in hell Parcells would’ve tried to go for that three times. And Tuna could get livid too, he just wouldn’t lose it for his team.

Yep, Parcells ran that TE would block, fall down then go out opposite of the QB rollout and usually be wide open. Great play, I remember we scored a TD off that play.

 

[gimmesix]

Imagine the whining and crying around here defending the Refs if this has happened to us.

I would absolutely be upset if it happened to us. But the way that it happened was going to be unfair to one team no matter what, so I prefer that it be unfair to our opponent.

 

[TNCowboy]

Why does 70 run up to the ref before the play? Clearly they were trying to "trick" Dallas in some form or fashion and they blew it.

Trying to confuse the refs. Same reason 58 stands between the ref and 68. Dan Campbell knew what he was doing, except he thought he'd get the call.

 

[RonnieT24]

The blindness here is staggering. The ref screwed up. I get you desperately want that not to be the case because the refs making a huge mistake in favor of the Cowboys does not fit your worldview. The problem is that your worldview is wrong and you cannot make peace with the fact that the refs screwed up. I get it. It is hard to accept that the refs screw up for other teams and there is no grand conspiracy but in this case the Cowboys got lucky and won the game off of the screwup. We have seen those mistakes also go the other way. Denying reality is just one of those weird quirks that I just do not understand about fandom.

Do you think denying an obvious reality doesn't seem foolish? This reminds me of when there were Rams fans swearing by the fact that the no call on PI was correct. We all saw that it should have been called though and so they just looked foolish. We all saw it. Now maybe he was just there to talk about the weather. Just like the guy in the stolen car just happened to accidentally get in the wrong car and drive it. Both are equally ridiculous claims but you seem to want to argue the former.

The ref announced #70 as eligible. If that was the wrong player then it's up to the Lions to correct it is it not? They had plenty of time as it it was a dead ball situation. Can you explain to me why three Lions line went over to confront the ref? What were they doing? I maintain they were trying to be cute and it bit 'em in the arse. But please.. please wow us with your plausible and logical explanation for why three linemen went over there for ONE to report? I look forward to enjoying your reasoning.

 

[TNCowboy]

There is nothing else to say. There is literally nothing else an OLine player would be running up to the official to do. He is not about to be chatting about the weather. He clearly reported eligible and the ref did not catch it and then the NFL put out a statement where they acted like they were correct and did not realize there was video showing them looking dumb.

Officiating has been abysmal this year and this is kind of obvious, unambiguous, awful call that just articulates the problem. You can debate over what is a hold or what is PI, but when officials cannot even notice when someone is reporting eligible, that the kind of failure you do not expect at the NFL level.

So what is 70 doing running at the ref instead of toward the huddle or the LOS? He raises his hand, the ref points at him, then tell the D that 70 is eligible. That's on the players.

 

[Roadtrip635]

I would absolutely be upset if it happened to us. But the way that it happened was going to be unfair to one team no matter what, so I prefer that it be unfair to our opponent.

I'd be upset too, but I would be just as pissed if MM still went for 2 on the 2nd and 3rd attempt.

 

[Jfconrow]

Then explain the other 2 OL over there.

My best guess, so they could make sure the official was there so the guy could run all the way across the field and report in. Other option they were still complaining about the Miami loss. Ha, I have no idea.

 

[plymkr]

Ok, so this should end the whole thing. If I’m reading this right the ref said there were 2 fouls on the play. So regardless if 68 reported or not the play would have been a foul.

End of story. We won, they lost.

 

[Roadtrip635]

It seems like the only people that didn't know that #70 and not #68 was eligible were the Lions......

 

[mattwill]

In that case, they only have 6 on LOS, still illegal formation.

They had an unbalanced line with two to the left of the Center and 4 to the right of the Center ... 7 total.

 

[Chasing6]

I count 2 WR's, 1 QB, 1 RB and 1 TE all off the line of scrimmage leaving only 6 players on the line of scrimmage. Illegal formation.

I believe Dan Cambell did not know the rule and thought he could have two eligible receivers. I believe they first reported 68, then reported 70. The Ref knowing the rules believed it was changed fron 68 to 70 causing the confusion.

If the WR on the right was on the line of scrimmage then it is an illegal formation for covering 70.

The refs do not have to explain them the rules.

 

[Chasing6]

It seems like the only people that didn't know that #70 and not #68 was eligible were the Lions......

I think it is possible the Lions wanted both to be eligible not knowing the rules. Dan told them their plan before the game. It is not their job to tell him he can't do that. They reported 68 first and then 70. The refs changed it from 68 to 70.

 

[mattwill]

I count 2 WR's, 1 QB, 1 RB and 1 TE all off the line of scrimmage leaving only 6 players on the line of scrimmage. Illegal formation.

I believe Dan Cambell did not know the rule and thought he could have two eligible receivers. I believe they first reported 68, then reported 70. The Ref knowing the rules believed it was changed fron 68 to 70 causing the confusion.

If the WR on the right was on the line of scrimmage then it is an illegal formation for covering 70.

The refs do not have to explain them the rules.

Only 1 WR, not 2. The WR at the bottom of the screen is off the line of scrimmage, but the one at the top of the screen is on the line of scrimmage.

 

[Chasing6]

Only 1 WR, not 2.

Then 70 is covered and an illegal formation.

I think Dan thought he could have 2 eligible WR's. Why did 70 run over to the Ref's?

He told the ref's his plan before the game and they did not correct his mistake.

70 reported 2nd removing 68.