NFL referee Tony Corrente was asked about the controversial
interception call that occurred on a Josh Freeman-to-Michael Clayton
catch that resulted in an interception at the Tampa Bay 15-yard line
instead of a first down:
(On why the play which was ultimately ruled an interception by Jason Taylor was initially ruled an incomplete pass) – “One of the officials on the field felt the ball had touched the ground after it left the possession of the receiver.”
(On why was the play not ruled a completion upon review)
– “Because the player in question, the player who was possessing the
ball in the air, as he started to come down, was hit. As he is coming
down, he is now going to the ground to complete a catch and by rule, if
he’s going to the ground to complete a catch, he has to maintain
possession of the ball completely through the entire process of hitting
the ground and thereafter showing control. As he went to the ground,
basically right when he went to the ground, the ball popped out, and
went right into the arms of the Miami player. The ball had never
touched the ground.”
(On if the play was ever whistled dead) – “The play was never whistled dead, not until the player [Taylor] got into the end zone.”
(On why Taylor was unable to advance the ball) – “Because by rule, in the replay rules we can give the ball to the team, but we can’t allow the advance thereafter.”
(On if they are unable to allow an advance even if the ball is not whistled dead) – “Unfortunately, that’s just the replay rule because it was ruled as an incomplete pass.”
(On when the play was ruled an incomplete pass)
– “It wasn’t ruled incomplete until there was a discussion in the end
zone well after the touchdown was ‘scored.’ And so at that point, the
officials got together and one said ‘I felt the ball hit the ground,’
and of course any doubt, it’s incomplete.”
Her is a comment that I sent to the NFL referee website. I would appreciate it, that if anyone agrees with my comments, please send them on to the NFL people. If I am wrong, then I apologize.
ReplyDeleteYou should be ashamed of yourselves. The horrible play calling in the GB vs. Baltimore game is inexcusable. The tiny touch of the hands being called for pass interference & the non-calls on major hand hooks is disrespectful towards all good officials in the NFL.
Set aside the fact that the referee accidentally signaled possession the wrong direction on the 3rd quarter Baltimore kick-off (which means they don't know what they are doing, the fact of the matter is that your referees did not start the play clock at :40 seconds after the play was blown dead at 2:50 in the 4th quarter. Baltimore would have clearly used their time outs if the clock had a chance of going to the 2 minute warning.
Seriously, your referees single handedly changed the course of the game with the awful penalty calling. The fact that they called more penalties than there were yards of offense in the game, are a great indication that you screwed up, and by you, I mean the referees that you employee.
Time after time, all season long, I have seen bad calls by your crews. It is an amazing coincidence that it seems to be that all of the bad officiating happens after your referees have become full-time employees.
Do you have a system in place to evaluate the quality of penalty calling? Why don't you allow a penalty to be challenged? If the coach only gets (2) red flags, then why can't they challenge a penalty? Are you afraid that there would be so many overturned penalties that it would make your organization look bad?
It couldn't slow the game down any more than it already does!!! Besides, the coaches only get (2) red flags per game; how could this revision slow the game down more than it already does? As it stands now, the coaches use their red flags as time outs that they would take anyway, just to stop the game down. Congratulations, you have invented the 5:00 time out.
Seriously, I and the fans of the NFL deserve a response, an explanation, and quite possibly, an apology for the sorry state that the NFL referees are doing right now. You are changing the outcome of games. There are so many stoppages, right now, in the NFL that I would welcome even more, if each and every call was correct and true. Either that, or just let them play!!!!
Please respond, I would appreciate even a tiny response to this matter. I know that you don't have much authority to correct past errors, but the first step to recovery is the ability to admit you were wrong. I plan on doing everything in my power to bring this topic to justice. While I may be nobody, remember, never underestimate the underdog!!!
Respectfully,
Chris Conwell
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