Nfl makes unprecedented choice
Officiating squads join Nfl convention call
The Nfl has scheduled a conference name with every member of each officiating squad, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Thursday on the nfl Network. An officiating source told Glazer that the purpose of Friday’s call would be to allow a pep speak and clean up mistakes by authorities. Sources say having all the authorities involved in the call is unusual, if not unprecedented. The conference name comes on the heels of two high-profile officiating decisions in Week 7.
Late in Sunday’s game involving the Steelers and Dolphins, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scrambled from the pocket and lunged for the finish zone. The golf ball was knocked loose around the target line, however the officials ruled that Roethlisberger had scored a touchdown.
A Dolphins competitor emerged from the ensuing end-zone pileup with the football. When the golf ball was decided on replay to have come out just before Roethlisberger attained the purpose line, Miami believed it had a touchback. But since officials at first ruled that Roethlisberger had won a td, they didn’t bother to see who recovered the ball, considering it technically was will no longer in play.
Pittsburgh was awarded the ball to the Miami 1-yard line and went on to kick a go-ahead lineup goal and hold on to get a 23-22 win. The 2nd controversy came in the Sunday evening competition in between the Vikings and Green Bay Green Bay, when MN tight stop Visanthe Shiancoe created a diving pick up ultimately zone and appeared to secure the golf ball as he rolled onto his back. Officials dominated the play a touchdown but overturned the decision on review. Minnesota settled to get a lineup objective and lost 28-24.
Minnesota coach Brad Childress openly criticized the game’s officiating, drawing a $35,000 fine from the nfl. League spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted a statement later Thursday, downplaying the implied meaning of the call, suggesting that it is component of a new routine due to Carl Johnson’s expanded communications program, and is most likely to occur once again close to the conclusion of your year.
