They would say no and I wouldn't even argue that. It would be a big ask, even if the NFL was honest and transparent.
NFL Announces Changes to Officiating Procedures for Playoffs
- Thread starter soxhop411
- Start date
Sure it's a big ask---and, if the NFL is making a case that the integrity of the game is paramount, and that they are now extra committed to getting calls right, if I were the journalist I would say why wouldn't the NFL want the public to know how serious and detailed the discussions are?
If Peter King did the story, I - for one - wouldn't believe a word of it. This is one of the NFL's fundamental problems; no one should believe anything they say, ever. Peter King is a house organ in every sense of the phrase.
Maybe if they gave Mike Freeman the access. But they never would, because Freeman isn't on their payroll.
Maybe if they gave Mike Freeman the access. But they never would, because Freeman isn't on their payroll.
Well, we now have confirmation from Blandino that NFL HQ can "lobby" on-field officials during a game:
As Blandino watched, he said, he got word to the officials that if ejections were necessary, they'd have the NFL's support.
"You know, the crew was doing a really tough job of trying to keep the game under control," Blandino said. "They had spoken to both head coaches. They had spoken to the players. 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 can not get out of control.'
As Blandino watched, he said, he got word to the officials that if ejections were necessary, they'd have the NFL's support.
"You know, the crew was doing a really tough job of trying to keep the game under control," Blandino said. "They had spoken to both head coaches. They had spoken to the players. 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 can not get out of control.'
Should have known Florio was already onto this:
That’s a surprising admission, as ordinarily the league office says it only talks to the referee about specific calls that are reviewable on instant replay. If the league office is telling the referee during games to consider ejecting a certain player, that could raise all kinds of questions about how much influence the league office has on games.
That’s a surprising admission, as ordinarily the league office says it only talks to the referee about specific calls that are reviewable on instant replay. If the league office is telling the referee during games to consider ejecting a certain player, that could raise all kinds of questions about how much influence the league office has on games.
I second Harry Hooper's observation. What happened to the idea that Blandino only whispers into refs ears about replay calls and rules interpretations?
When the NFL's head of officials starts chirping into a referee's headset "Hey, it's okay if you eject players. You have our support" he's not really offering "support." He's telling the ref to eject the guy who just speared, slammed or punched someone. Or the next guy who does it.
It is transparent meddling, just like if (when?) Blandino tells the officiating team before a Patriots game, "we'd like want to remind you that you can call offensive pass interference on tight ends whose names begin with "G" if they bump into a linebacker." It's not a reminder or advice, it's an instruction.
There is no point in a writer listening to the channel if the league knows the writer is listening in. The league will just do everything on the complete up and up. It's kind of like that time Peter King sat in while the refs checked the balls during a pregame.
This.
This has everything to do with protecting the result of Super Bowl 50. The decision and the timing of the announcement of the decision is no coincidence.
