Today on PFT: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/12/23/blandino-told-ref-during-giants-panthers-to-consider-an-ejection/
In my mind what is to stop him from buzzing the replay official to "remind the ref" to really keep an eye out on rub routes and OPI. Or if you are a Seahawks fan, what if he buzzes down to let the ref know that their seems to quite a bit of illegal contact in the Seahawks defensive backfield, keep an eye on it.
Blandino, and the league office, now can conceivably point out points of emphasis for refs mid game.
12/18 on PFT: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/12/18/dean-blandino-i-wont-be-involved-in-penalty-calls-in-the-playoffs/“There was a point during the game when I did get on the headset to the replay official to remind the referee that you can eject players, you’ll have our full support, this thing cannot get out of control,” Blandino said on NFL Network.
These two statements don't square with each other at all. I find Blandino to be a smarmy douche but I wasn't going to think he would be this stupid to admit he spoke to refs about ejecting players during a game. This opens him, and Park Avenue, up to accusations that they can have an influence on the game.The news that NFL V.P. of Officiating Dean Blandino will communicate with the refereeduring playoff games has led to questions about just how much involvement the league office will have in micromanaging the games. But Blandino says his role will be limited to administrative issues, and he won’t have any hand in the calling of penalties.
Blandino said in his weekly officiating video that he won’t have any say over the calling of penalties during games.
“This does not involve penalties,” Blandino said. “This does not involve the initiating of a flag or picking up a flag. When there’s a conference on the field, we in New York will not be part of that conference. We will not be listening in, talking to the officials. This is strictly a safety net in the isolated instance that there’s an issue with the administration of the game. It’s just using the technology to have one more resource to get it right. That’s the goal of this. It will not involve penalties and it will not involve communicating with the referee after every play, after penalties are called.”
In my mind what is to stop him from buzzing the replay official to "remind the ref" to really keep an eye out on rub routes and OPI. Or if you are a Seahawks fan, what if he buzzes down to let the ref know that their seems to quite a bit of illegal contact in the Seahawks defensive backfield, keep an eye on it.
Blandino, and the league office, now can conceivably point out points of emphasis for refs mid game.