Fansided

Top 10 reasons the NFL needs a new head of officials

By Jeffery Reynolds

March 20, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino speaks during a press conference at the annual NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
March 20, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino speaks during a press conference at the annual NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is unable to catch a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) in the fourth quarter in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is unable to catch a pass against Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) in the fourth quarter in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

We All Know It Was A Catch.

Most of us saw this replay a thousand times, and it’s still mystifying why it wasn’t called a catch.

Late in the fourth quarter in a divisional playoff game in Green Bay, Dallas is driving for the go ahead score. Tony Romo throws a sideline fade to Dez Bryant, who leaps and makes an insane catch as he tumbles to the ground.

Except that, upon review, the call is overturned and it is ruled incomplete.

This may be how the rule is written. This may have been the correct call. But when a rule is written that overrides the experience and common sense of fans, NFL employees, coaches and players who have been watching and playing football for decades – because come on, we all know that is a catch – the rule is just simply wrong.

If it’s a problem with interpretation, then the rule is still wrong and far too complicated. The boss – the Vice President of Officiating – has a responsibility to take up for his employees or ensure that they’re properly trained to make the right interpretation.

Instead, Dean Blandino, who supervised the replay process on this play, doubled down and said it was the right call. This call completely changed the outcome of the game.

Calls like this that fly in the face of experience and common sense degrade the viewing enjoyment of the fans.

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