Blandino taking personal control of post-season officiating

[Fencer]

Not just in challenge/replay situations.

NFL announces 'limited adjustment' to postseason officiating

Supposedly, there are some limitations on his role. And given the speed of the game, I believe as a practical matter that in most (not necessarily all) cases they will adhere to those limitations. But still ... blech.

For the 2015 Postseason, consultation may occur between the Referee and the VP of Officiating or his designee located in the league's officiating headquarters in New York regarding the correct application of playing rules. In addition to the VP of Officiating's current role in Instant Replay, this consultation will only include the appropriate assessment of penalty yardage, the proper administration of the game clock, the correct down, or any other administrative matter not currently reviewable.

This will not include the ability to call or judge a foul, or otherwise become involved in on-field judgment calls that are not subject to the current Instant Replay system.

 

[VectorPrime]

Legit concerning, but this thread is about to go absolutely apes.hit about it.

 

[BelichickFan]

In other words, despite roger's recent ball washing of the refs, they realize this year's reffing has been the worst ever.

 

[turkeyneck]

"We're not getting the results we want. The Patriots are still threatening to win another Super Bowl."

 

[The Brandon Five]

Have someone with zero NFL referee experience oversee the playoffs? What could go wrong?

 

[TommyD4207]

"We're not getting the results we want. The Patriots are still threatening to win another Super Bowl."

This was my first thought.

It was a good run, fellas.

 

[sportnik]

There goes our margin for error. You can assume every close call is going against the Pats.

Paging Mr. Kraft...

 

[VectorPrime]

Can we preemptively ban Joker from this thread? No good can come of it.

 

[RayClay]

Talk about on the job training.

 

[turkeyneck]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

 

[turkeyneck]

Can we preemptively ban Joker from this thread? No good can come of it.

The EMTs should be rolling now!

 

[The Brandon Five]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

In Vegas, everybody's gotta watch everybody else. Since the players are looking to beat the casino, the dealers are watching the players. The box men are watching the dealers. The floor men are watching the box men. The pit bosses are watching the floor men. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The casino manager is watching the shift bosses. I'm watching the casino manager. And the eye-in-the-sky is watching us all. - Ace Rothstein, Casino

I think we can leave it to the guardian of all things related to integrity: the commish.

 

[chasa]

i mean the jets were due for a title right?

they've done everything short of forcing the refs to call it a specific way.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There goes our margin for error. You can assume every close call is going against the Pats.

Paging Mr. Kraft...

Going into homer-mode here but it does seem that a majority of the iffy calls have gone against the pats this year.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

NFL office is getting nervous the pats will make the sb. Gotta beat the refs, NFL office, and actual teams in the PO

 

[Koma]

It's almost like the NFL is daring fans not to watch - "Everyone thinks Blandino is incompetent and officiating has suffered under his watch. Let's give him even more authority to directly influence games."

 

[RobertWeathers]

Have someone with zero NFL referee experience oversee the playoffs? What could go wrong?

That is my issue.

Its commonplace for executives to become escalation points on critical operational, customer issues or crisis situations. However, to ensure success you typically have people who have served in some capacity in their careers that can help them make good decisions and not be just a title and a empty suit.

My problem is that Blandino has never been a ref. He played TE in high school and was a communications major at Hofstra. Hes been a replay official at a couple of Super Bowls (one was 2005 ) which is significant but has been in administration for the last decade. He isn't qualified. Period.

I'd feel better if it was a fmr official like Jerry Seaman or someone else with officiating experience that had a bit more depth and real-world experience.

Plus the guy is a lying sack of **** driving the NFL's anti-Patriots agenda but we'll leave that out as a factor for now.

 

[Galeb]

Repeating just got a lot harder.

 

[The Brandon Five]

That is my issue.

Hes been a replay official at a couple of Super Bowls (one was 2005 ) which is significant but has been in administration for the last decade. He isn't qualified. Period.

That's all you really need to know right there. The worst-officiated SB in memory (maybe ever).

 

[RobertWeathers]

That's all you really need to know right there. The worst-officiated SB in memory (maybe ever).

I know. It's not like he has a plaque or a trophy for that one. It was a disaster. The wrong team won. Thats a black mark if there ever was one.