Celebrities react to controversial flag pickup in Cowboys-Lions
By Sam Richmond
Many celebrities weighed in on Twitter about the infamous blown pass interference call in the Detroit Lions–Dallas Cowboys game Sunday.
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It’s the no-call that NFL fans will never forget.
The referees called and announced defensive pass interference on Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a critical play midway through the fourth quarter of the team’s NFC Wild Card matchup against the Detroit Lions Sunday.
However, the referees stunningly picked up the flag, reversing the call, giving the Cowboys a huge break in a game they would ultimately win 24-20 over the Lions.
Many were outraged by the referees’ decision to reverse the call, believing it be an obvious pass interference, including a number of celebrities and famous athletes, who took to Twitter to express their thoughts.
Let it be recorded that the #Detroit @Lions were robbed today in #Dallas. Unbelievable pickup of the flag, unbelievable! #DETvsDAL
— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 5, 2015
Can Anybody other than a Cowboy fan explain that call?!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) January 5, 2015
How do u pick up that flag?????
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 5, 2015
Refs gotta have something on this game hahaha
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) January 5, 2015
That's pretty unbelievable that they could call pass interference and then pick up the flag with no explanation?? Not sure why?
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 5, 2015
Never seen a pass interference flag picked up before!
— Tim Brown (@81TimBrown) January 5, 2015
The referees’ decision to pick up the flag was no doubt a turning point in the game. Had the penalty been called, the Lions would have had a first down in Cowboys territory with a 3-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Instead, Detroit punted the ball on the following fourth down, giving the Cowboys plenty of time to march down the field and eventually get the go-ahead score.
The referees explained after the game that no flag was called because they believed Hitchens to be face guarding, rather than impeding the receiver’s ability to make a play by making contact with him.
That explanation surely won’t quiet down Lions fans and NFL fans everywhere, who believe Detroit to have been robbed.
Regardless of all the anger, the Cowboys won the game and will move on.
Dallas will take on the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Lions finished the season with an 11-6 record (including playoffs) while Dallas has won 13 of its 17 games.