- Joined
- Oct 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,819
- Reaction score
- 2,007
Something bad happens to the Patriots whenever referee Clete Blakeman is in the same zip code as Tom Brady. Mr. Blakeman will be on the field tonight in (ironically enough) Carolina. At least it's still preseason, so maybe the damage won't be all that bad this time around.
Of course, evereyone recalls that Blakeman was at Ground Zero of Footballs Obeying the Laws of Physics Gate, heriocally manning either the logo gauge or non-logo gauge (as the case may be) to record the scientifically precise air presure measurements of cold, soggy footballs at halftime of the AFC Champiuonship game.
And many know that it was Blakeman that picked up the flag negating what was a blatant defensive pass interefence penalty against Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, clinching a controversial 24-20 win for Carolina in November 2013.
What you might not recall is an unusal penalty called by Blakeman in the Patriots' 24-23 loss to the Seahawks in 2012. Tom Brady was called for intentional grounding at the end of the first half, resulting in a 10 second runoff of the clock, ending the half and depriving the Patriots of a chip shot FG attempt.
Brady did something we see NFL QBs do all the time - he threw the ball out of the back of the end zone. Intentional grounding? Maybe according to the strict definition of the rule. But it was a call you very rarely see. Well, maybe just this once. In any event, it was contributor to a maddening one point loss.
Were the world a better, fairer place, Clete Blakeman would never, ever cross paths with the Patriots again.
Of course, evereyone recalls that Blakeman was at Ground Zero of Footballs Obeying the Laws of Physics Gate, heriocally manning either the logo gauge or non-logo gauge (as the case may be) to record the scientifically precise air presure measurements of cold, soggy footballs at halftime of the AFC Champiuonship game.
And many know that it was Blakeman that picked up the flag negating what was a blatant defensive pass interefence penalty against Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, clinching a controversial 24-20 win for Carolina in November 2013.
What you might not recall is an unusal penalty called by Blakeman in the Patriots' 24-23 loss to the Seahawks in 2012. Tom Brady was called for intentional grounding at the end of the first half, resulting in a 10 second runoff of the clock, ending the half and depriving the Patriots of a chip shot FG attempt.
Brady did something we see NFL QBs do all the time - he threw the ball out of the back of the end zone. Intentional grounding? Maybe according to the strict definition of the rule. But it was a call you very rarely see. Well, maybe just this once. In any event, it was contributor to a maddening one point loss.
Were the world a better, fairer place, Clete Blakeman would never, ever cross paths with the Patriots again.
Last edited: