Taylor Decker reporting his eligibility to the refs

[CT Dal Fan]

For the last time the refs messed up on the eligibility report thing.

But the Lions still lined up with an illegal formation so all the hand-wringing over what Decker said or didn't say is a waste of time.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

And on top of this the Lions still had two more chances to get it or to kick the extra point and they couldn't.

 

[unionjack8]

Here's my take.

1. I don't care what Dan Campbell told the refs pre game. You expect them to have a list of EVERYTHING both HCs point out that MAY occur during a game. bs excuse Campbell.

2. The ref announced 70 as eligible, hence 68 wasn't. If he got it wrong them correct him on field, Goff or Campbell or 70 couid gave told him otherwise.

3. Don't try to be cute by having 3 OL run up to the ref to try to confuse Dallas, it backfired because you confused tge ref.

You lost. Calls go both ways.

4. This PROVES once and for all that this boards conspiracy about the refs being anti Dallas is indeed just a bunch if babies crying.

 

[plymkr]

Both can report.

It was a jumbo formation.

This is a procedural question. With a jumbo formation and both players can report does the ref have to announce that both are players are reporting? You can hear the announcement that #70 reported, does he have to announce #68 is reporting as well or is it a given with that formation?

One thing I’m stuck on is the announcement and the play clock. Let’s say ref screwed up, he still announced #70 as eligible and there was 20+ seconds on the play clock for the Lions to make the correction. But that’s if an announcement about 68 needs to be made using that formation. That’s why I’m asking.

 

[tm1119]

For the last time the refs messed up on the eligibility report thing.

But the Lions still lined up with an illegal formation so all the hand-wringing over what Decker said or didn't say is a waste of time.

The formation was 100% legal. The breakdown of the formation has already been posted several times.

 

[DuncanIso]

For the last time the refs messed up on the eligibility report thing.

But the Lions still lined up with an illegal formation so all the hand-wringing over what Decker said or didn't say is a waste of time.

No. Formation was Legal.

Jumbo package.

 

[Landryhat73]

The tape shows him walking over to the official before the play. As Aikman said, there is no reason for him to do that unless he’s reporting. I’ll take it but we got that one gift wrapped. It’s about time a bad call went our way.

But then why does Skipper run over to the official if it’s not to report as eligible? To me it is obvious Detroits goal was to create confusion and they confused the refs. Don’t think anything was sinister, the official either got the wrong number or Skipper also reported as eligible. No matter what, Dallas didn’t think 68 was eligible.

 

[FloridaRob]

Another fan (?) not happy we won, on the correct call.

the correct call is always in the eyes of what fan base benefited from the call. Dez Bryant non catch-catch-Tuck rule-Fail Mary-just another call last night for millions to spend years debating all while the NFL cashes in more money. Bad Calls for the league are just as profitable as correct calls.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

The formation was 100% legal. The breakdown of the formation has already been posted several times.

Even still the Cowboys gifted them two more shots to get it thanks to the Micah Parsons offsides. And nothing stopped them from kicking the PAT and going to overtime either.

Dallas finally, FINALLY gets a break and it's like the NFL world stops spinning.

 

[DuncanIso]

This is a procedural question. With a jumbo formation and both players can report does the ref have to announce that both are players are reporting? You can hear the announcement that #70 reported, does he have to announce #68 is reporting as well or is it a given with that formation?

One thing I’m stuck on is the announcement and the play clock. Let’s say ref screwed up, he still announced #70 as eligible and there was 20+ seconds on the play clock for the Lions to make the correction. But that’s if an announcement about 68 needs to be made using that formation. That’s why I’m asking.

Not the players job to police the refs.

In any case, the other refs would have seen all 3 players reporting.

Are they that blind? No.

If I’m Detroit, I’m filing a complaint with the nfl commish.

Rigged.

 

[MajesticRey]

NFL...and their gambler-masters...always keeping things "fair."

We were the beneficiaries tonight. Which, for this team, happens rarely. In a position to tighten the standings up a bit. Draw-in viewers, bettors...all that. This League is a joke.

This means the Eagles are almost guaranteed a loss this weekend, right? That way both Dallas and Philly have something to play for in the final week.

 

[DuncanIso]

You can’t have NFL games rigged like this.

We went through this with the Dez catch.

 

[Kevinicus]

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.

But, why is the only reason for one guy to be over there is to report, but that's not the only reason for other OL?

 

[VaqueroTD]

Here's my take.

1. I don't care what Dan Campbell told the refs pre game. You expect them to have a list of EVERYTHING both HCs point out that MAY occur during a game. bs excuse Campbell.

2. The ref announced 70 as eligible, hence 68 wasn't. If he got it wrong them correct him on field, Goff or Campbell or 70 couid gave told him otherwise.

3. Don't try to be cute by having 3 OL run up to the ref to try to confuse Dallas, it backfired because you confused tge ref.

You lost. Calls go both ways.

4. This PROVES once and for all that this boards conspiracy about the refs being anti Dallas is indeed just a bunch if babies crying.

also…. As pointed out by @MountaineerCowboy earlier in thread, if Dallas knew #68 was eligible, you don’t think someone would have been out there in coverage on a slow lineman? Height advantage best you could ask for assuming dude has any hands.

Lions got caught trying to be sneaky. If you’re depending on a sneaky play like this to trick your opponent into thinking the wrong lineman is eligible, then you deserve every bit what you have coming for you.

 

[DripTooHard]

For the last time the refs messed up on the eligibility report thing.

But the Lions still lined up with an illegal formation so all the hand-wringing over what Decker said or didn't say is a waste of time.

For the last time, the refs announced 70 as eligible over the loudspeaker before the play with a full play clock of 25 seconds. Why didn’t Detroit correct the ref if he got it wrong? They had plenty of time for that.

 

[VaqueroTD]

But, why is the only reason for one guy to be over there is to report, but that's not the only reason for other OL?

They were trying to be sneaky about it and make it look like number 70 was reporting eligible. That’s what Campbell tried to cover with the refs pregame, that it was a sneak eligibility report so that the defense didn’t realize number 68 was the guy who would catch. Lame. Thought he was being an XO genius, but it was too cute, it blew up in his face, and his ego couldn’t take it, which is why he tried to ram it down our throat three times and let his emotions get the best of him.

 

[Roadtrip635]

So you don’t think #68, who said he reported as eligible here, actually did?

That clip is misleading and didn't show enough time, he was not acknowledging #68, the ref was looking at #70 the whole time as he was running onto the field and nodded at him. The ref was not paying attention to #68, maybe he should have, but it also the player's responsibility to get the ref's attention and make sure he is clear. The Lions tried some trickery, but not well thought out since whatever "surprise" would be spoiled once the ref announces to the entire stadium who is now eligible and walks over to the defensive captain tells him as well. If this was a hurry-up situation, maybe it has some merit, but the game clock isn't running, neither side is rushing to get aligned and everyone will be made aware of the situation and ample time to adjust.

The only reason this play worked in the first place was the Cowboys did not account for him because he was not reported to them as eligible, had he been they would have accounted for him. To the Cowboys, he was just an ineligible player down field.
It was announced over the stadium PA system and a Lion's player or Coach, ST Coach, should have caught that and adjusted accordingly.

 

[plymkr]

Not the players job to police the refs.

In any case, the other refs would have seen all 3 players reporting.

Are they that blind? No.

If I’m Detroit, I’m filing a complaint with the nfl commish.

Rigged.

I agree with all that. If I’m Detroit I’m furious. They have a good and valid reason to be angry. I would be. And I hope the NFL investigates it so we as fans can put it to rest. But my question is about the refs obligation to announce who reported. So let’s work on the premise that #68 and #70 reported. Did the ref botch the call by not announcing #68? Or is the ref supposed to announce every player that reports? I’m asking more about the general rule of what the ref is supposed to do if several OL report.

 

[Gorgon]

Now try to explain away the other two penalties the Lions committed on that same play.

THREE people "reported eligibility. Doesn't work that way.

 

[Gorgon]

That clip is misleading and didn't show enough time, he was not acknowledging #68, the ref was looking at #70 the whole time as he was running onto the field and nodded at him. The ref was not paying attention to #68, maybe he should have, but it also the player's responsibility to get the ref's attention and make sure he is clear. The Lions tried some trickery, but not well thought out since whatever "surprise" would be spoiled once the ref announces to the entire stadium who is now eligible and walks over to the defensive captain tells him as well. If this was a hurry-up situation, maybe it has some merit, but the game clock isn't running, neither side is rushing to get aligned and everyone will be made aware of the situation and ample time to adjust.

The only reason this play worked in the first place was the Cowboys did not account for him because he was not reported to them as eligible, had he been they would have accounted for him. To the Cowboys, he was just an ineligible player down field.
It was announced over the stadium PA system and a Lion's player or Coach, ST Coach, should have caught that and adjusted accordingly.

100% on all counts. I saw THREE people huddling with the ref. Even Aikman said, "You don't get to put three people out there and have the refs guess who is eligible."