Does the NFL admit they screwed up again?

[SVN]

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 18m
Dean Blandino tells NFLN Total Access, "I wouldn't say that (the officials) were wrong."

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 18m
Blandino also says the non-call will not affect the officials' grades for postseason assignments.

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 17m
Best part: Blandino says "the restriction occurred simultaneously with the ball being touched."... (cont)

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 16m
Then Blandino turns toward replay monitor, restriction clearly begins 3 seconds before interception.

Greg A. Bedard ?@GregABedard 8m
He didn't say that RT @NFL_ATL Dean Blandino: Officials got controversial call right that went against Patriots

Greg A. Bedard ?@GregABedard 3m
Blandino said they weren't wrong. Slight difference. It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

 

[Zeus]

It Is What It Is » NFL officiating chief: Crew made right call at end of Pats-Panthers

I dont know how he says obstruction was being made the same time the INT was being made. It started way before.

Well the obstruction was being made at the time the pick happened. However, it started well before the ball got there.

 

[PatsSox363804]

As if the league would ever admit they blew a call.

 

[Sciz]

It Is What It Is » NFL officiating chief: Crew made right call at end of Pats-Panthers

I dont know how he says obstruction was being made the same time the INT was being made. It started way before.

Those headlines are terrible. The NFL Twitter did the same thing. He never says they made the right call. What he's saying is nothing more than "they may or may not have f***ed up, but given what they decided, they made the right call."

 

[flasox27]

Welcome to Goodell's NFL where there is no lie too big to be covered up. Just make up the rules to fit the call even when they are in conflict to the truth which is perfectly obvious. i would not be surprised if the official who correctly threw the flag was punished for not following orders and embarrassing the NFL.

 

[SVN]

Greg A. Bedard ?@GregABedard 9m
It's ridiculous RT @shageman13 What do you think of Blandino's "restriction occurred simultaneously" comment?

 

[coolguy]

I really think what happened during the famous 07 ravens vs patriots mnf game effected this call.

It's almost as if they were trying to even it out.

 

[Joker]

"SIMULTANEOUS"

 

[Sciz]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

Amber Theoharis: “We know this play is not reviewable – pass interference is a judgment call – but was it the correct call by the officials?”

Dean Blandino: “Let’s go through the play. Here is (Rob) Gronkowski in the formation. The back judge in the middle of the field – he’s on the end line – that’s his key. We have (Aaron) Dobson down here; the side judge who is on the goal line – that’s his key. Let’s watch the play develop. The back judge is going to see restriction right there and he’s going to throw his flag for that restriction. The side judge who had Dobson, his mechanics are once the ball is in the air he’s going to go to the ball and he’s going to focus on the interception. After the play – you’ll see the flag come out – the back judge is going to signal to the side judge and they’re going to get together and have a discussion. What they’re going to talk about is when did the restriction occur in relation to the ball being touched? Because once the ball is touched you cannot have pass interference. This is a judgment call; the officials don’t have the use of replay. They don’t have slow motion replay and ultimately they ruled that the restriction occurred simultaneously with the ball being touched. When you watch it at full speed, you could see why they would make that call on the field.”

Theoharis: “Should the flag have been picked up once it was thrown on the field?”

Blandino: “Again, it’s a judgment call. There was contact, but there is contact on a lot of passing plays downfield. The issue isn’t the contact; the issue is the restriction. Does it occur prior to the ball being touched? At full speed, the officials made a tight judgment call and they determined that the restriction occurred just as the ball was being touched. Again, at full speed you could see why they made that call.”

Theoharis: “We understand it’s a judgment call but in your opinion, were the officials wrong?”

Blandino: “I wouldn’t say that they were wrong. Again, they have to make this call. They used proper mechanics. They got together after the play. They determined that in their judgment the contact occurred simultaneous with the ball being intercepted and that’s why the officials did what they did.”

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Here's some sanity from the national media-

"...If we're going to allow a receiver to get bear hugged in the end zone as the ball falls in the area, then why have a rule book at all?"

MNF no-call: Common sense got lost - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN

 

[supafly]

Hell no, they aren't going to admit they did anything wrong.

Actually, any and all comments from the refs and the VP of officiating support the referees decision. It's basically the opposite of admitting they did anything wrong. They are all standing firm on the choice.

 

[coolguy]

This play from now until the end of time will be known as the GRONK HUG.

 

[Joker]

Dean Blandino: “Let’s go through the play. Here is (Rob) Gronkowski in the formation. The back judge in the middle of the field – he’s on the end line – that’s his key. We have (Aaron) Dobson down here; the side judge who is on the goal line – that’s his key. Let’s watch the play develop. The back judge is going to see restriction right there and he’s going to throw his flag for that restriction. The side judge who had Dobson, his mechanics are once the ball is in the air he’s going to go to the ball and he’s going to focus on the interception. After the play – you’ll see the flag come out – the back judge is going to signal to the side judge and they’re going to get together and have a discussion. What they’re going to talk about is when did the restriction occur in relation to the ball being touched? Because once the ball is touched you cannot have pass interference. This is a judgment call; the officials don’t have the use of replay. They don’t have slow motion replay and ultimately they ruled that the restriction occurred simultaneously with the ball being touched. When you watch it at full speed, you could see why they would make that call on the field.”

Here's a picture of Dean Blandino for those of you that are interested...

 

[SVN]

Dean Blandino: I wouldn?t say the officials got it wrong | ProFootballTalk

 

[supafly]

Hell no, they aren't going to admit they did anything wrong.

Actually, any and all comments from the refs and the VP of officiating support the referees decision. It's basically the opposite of admitting they did anything wrong. They are all standing firm on the choice.

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

We've got to move past this. It was a judgment call that we didn't get. It sucks. It's unfortunate as hell.

Continuously dwelling upon it isn't going to do anything but drive us crazy in my opinion. It doesn't seem like the officials are budging too much, at least the people who matter anyway. You may hear some TV guys and former officials go back and forth, but the guys who matter now are all standing together.

Got to play better.

 

[Koma]

"SIMULTANEOUS"

"Everybody has a price! Hahahahahahahaha!!!"

 

[Joker]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

We've got to move past this. It was a judgment call that we didn't get. It sucks. It's unfortunate as hell.

Continuously dwelling upon it isn't going to do anything but drive us crazy in my opinion. It doesn't seem like the officials are budging too much, at least the people who matter anyway. You may hear some TV guys and former officials go back and forth, but the guys who matter now are all standing together.

Got to play better.

OK...so it doesn't bother you...that's fine...that's YOUR right...but to ask any of us to "move on" is a bit ludicrous when , in the very article YOU cite there is THIS as a summation....

Note the 2:00 mark when Blandino said the "restriction occurred simultaneously with the ball being touched," and then Blandino turned to watch the monitor and three full seconds passed between Gronkowski being contacted and the ball being intercepted.

THAT is FACTUAL EVIDENCE that Blandino is LYING.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 18m
Dean Blandino tells NFLN Total Access, "I wouldn't say that (the officials) were wrong."

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 18m
Blandino also says the non-call will not affect the officials' grades for postseason assignments.

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 17m
Best part: Blandino says "the restriction occurred simultaneously with the ball being touched."... (cont)

Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 16m
Then Blandino turns toward replay monitor, restriction clearly begins 3 seconds before interception.

Greg A. Bedard ?@GregABedard 8m
He didn't say that RT @NFL_ATL Dean Blandino: Officials got controversial call right that went against Patriots

Greg A. Bedard ?@GregABedard 3m
Blandino said they weren't wrong. Slight difference. It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

Then he said that the Easter Bunny reviewed the play in the booth.

 

[reflexblue]

I got tired of hearing on ex official or commentator say that the ball got there at the same time as gronk was held, and that it was uncatchable thats absolute Bull ****.... Well maybe just MAYBE if gronk wasn't being held he could have been in position to make it catchable. Seriously i have laser vision, 20/15 eyesight and i have these azz clowns telling me i didn't see what i saw, its insulting.

 

[ausbacker]

One thing that stands out like a sore thumb is the lack of leadership in key NFL posts. Then again, the brass knows what's up because everyone is going to keep debating the call until Thursday Night Football making the NHL and NBA redundant on the airwaves.

Perhaps the NFL isn't so dumb after all.