WHY ONLY FSU PENALIZED? NFL OFFICIALS CIRCLE WAGONS ... AND MORE

 Riddle me this: If the bowl committee doesn’t think unbeaten, 6th-ranked Florida State belongs in the final four because of its QB situation – No. 3 is now No. 1 – what about any team badly undermanned by defections overall? (Actually, FSU qualified on both counts – two missing QBs among eight overall offense as well as 10 defense … although some might have put their NFL plans on hold for 60 more minutes.)

Such a rule also might deter some stars from running out on their 

teammates … which has become so commonplace it goes without 

criticism that would appear deserved. Another reason to delight in 

Georgia’s romp in the Orange Bowl.

Headline from Cotton Bowl that told it all:

MISSOURI PUNTS EIGHT TIMES, STILL WINS OVER HALF-

DEAD OHIO STATE

MATT TURNER, back starting for the fifth straight English Premier 

League game after being benched by former coach Steve Cooper, 

continued to live dangerously Saturday for EPL Nottingham Forest. In 

what was a highly-emotional affair, against a team it hadn’t beaten in 29 

years, the one-time Richmond Kicker goaltender claimed what could be 

considered his best-ever victory, 2-1 over visiting Manchester United 

Saturday.

Believe it or not, once-mighty ManU’s Red Devils looked for more than 

a half that a scoreless tie would be perfectly OK with them. They played 

without energy or resolve then hunkered down and really became 

defensive (in more ways than one) after errant distribution by Turner led 

to a turnover and a quick goal by Marcus Rashford.

But that only energized Nottingham Forrest, which got the tying goal 

that really opened up the game, and it became worth watching from 

there. The Tricky Trees (why not?) drew even in regulation then won 

during extra time. Let the celebration begin.

Let the critique of MU’s typically out-of-synch performance as well as 

criticism of Eric Ten Haag’s coaching continue.

Even the understanding, sometimes-to-a-fault Rebecca Lowe closed her 

eyes and held her breath prior to Ten Haag’s post-game appearance. She 

couldn’t take it any more, said Lowe – anchoring NBC’s EPL coverage 

– if the coach pointed to the same old stuff. Sure, they had a number of 

key injuries, who doesn’t? And, if he noted it again took his team more 

than a half to get going, which as always he couldn’t explain …

It was a club-record 22d loss of the season – all competitions. The fans 

deserved answers. If nothing else, Ten Haag should assume more 

responsibility himself than he had to date.

With billionaire James Gillette buying into ManU for 25 percent, many 

changes are expected. For his money, he will assume the entire futbol 

operation of the franchise once rated the world’s best – any sport, Not a 

few people are screaming for the removal of Ten Haag.

Why not?

IF YOU WERE a big fan of big-time confusion, you had to like 

Saturday night’s “Monday Night Football” ending. The Lions 

completed a two-point pass conversion, ostensibly to take the lead the 

from the homestanding Cowboys with :23 remaining. We saw No. 68 

catch the ball. Then flags flew from both sides of the line … and we 

watched Detroit coach Dan Campbell become very, very angry.

Did No. 68 (beefy guard Taylor Decker) not report to the officials he 

would be an eligible receiver as the NFL rules require? Or did a 

teammate mistakingly cover him up and thereby making No. 68 also 

ineligible to catch a ball? Or was it something else more common, like 

moving too soon or …?

We also saw Lions No. 70 (tackle Don Skipper) running around, 

obviously upset … and unconsolable. What was that all about?

Anyway, the referee finally cleared the air – NOT – by saying No. 68 

had not reported. At least at the time, watching on ESPN which was 

little help, I thought it was on No. 68. Then why was teammate No. 70 

so angry. He couldn’t be upset, with No. 68 could he?

In the ESPN booth usually-reliable Joe Buck and Troy Aikman 

attempted to make some sense of what was going on but not being 

particularly helpful. A network replay showed No. 68, lined left, was 

not covered up. Buck and Aikman then added to the confusion, saying 

two linemen could not report as potential receivers at the same time. 

If ever there was an occasion for a sideline reporter to come up with 

some real information and not the typical pandering and stupid 

questions for which all of them have become known, this was the time. 

Lisa Salter could have struck a blow for her embattled sideline brethern 

everywhere by being a reporter … for a change.

She certainly had enough time. The Lions went for two again – Dallas 

interception was denied by Dallas offside – and again … when QB 

Jared Goffthrew soft and low, not giving his intended receiver a chance 

to score (which he probably would have with a decent pass). The 

Cowboys ran out the clock. Game over. Final: 20-19.

Salter had an estimated 15 minutes or more – including commercials -- 

to come up with the goods … if she (or the network) really cared … 

assuming they did which was a mistake.

Coming out of commercial there she was … with Cowboys’ wideout 

CeeDee Lamb … asking him how it felt to have broken a record held 

by Hall of Famer Michael Irvin? YUK! Lamb still looked stunned … 

although it’s doubtful Salter’s airhead, who-cares inquiries had much – 

if anything --to do with it.

AS A RESULT, viewers who just had to know before going to bed, had 

to wait until much later to learn that referee Brad Allen told a pool 

reporter that No. 70 reported but No. 68 had not prior to the seeming 

game-winning trick play … a claim that other ESPN footage appeared 

to dispute.

There was Decker coming onto the field, making for the referee, then 

saying something before heading for his position. And here comes 

Skipper who doesn’t appear to get close enough to have word with 

Allen before the ref strolls away. Oops!

ESPN reported Allen and crew could be disciplined. You think!

On second thought … despite all evidence to the contrary … ESPN 

officiating analyst and former NFL official for 13 years John Parry 

defended Allen. Game officials tend to do that – circle the wagons to

protect their own, right or wrong.

So, while we’re watching the replay, in slo-motion, Parry would not 

have us believe our lying eyes. “The issue here is: Did Brad Allen hear, 

recognize visually or verbally ... No. 68? I don’t think he does,” Parry 

says during a brisk exchange with Scott Van Pelt on the late-night 

SportsCenter. “I think he sees No. 70, coming from the sideline and 

follows him all the way in. I’m guessing Brad Allen, based on his 

mannerisms, his eyes, where his hat is looking. He never recognized 

him [Decker, No. 68).”

Come on! The ref was less than a stride away from Decker who pretty 

much stayed between No. 70 and Allen’s sight line from the oncoming 

Skipper. By the time he arrived, Allen had his back turned and was 

walking away. He might have seen No. 70 but he clearly wasn’t paying 

attention to him enough to hear anything he might have said. Remember 

the crowd wasn’t exactly sitting on its hands either.

So all Parry did, in essence, was make Allen look worse … suggesting 

the ref couldn’t see well enough to notice Decker at a range of no more 

than a yard or two.

“It appears Allen just got it wrong,” Van Pelt said. “… if Decker is 

standing in front of Allen, saying, ‘I’m reporting as eligible,” but Allen 

is looking around. It’s up to Decker to make certain that’s 

communicated?”

“Absolutely! It’s on the player,” Parry said. “It’s a unique play, a gadget 

play … You want to make sure the ref knows the position you’re 

playing.”

Never mind that Campbell, at a brief, contentious post-game meet with 

the media, said he had gone over the entire play with the officiating 

crew earlier. They knew what was coming … and obviously it didn’t 

matter. Geez, that’s surprising!