McDERMOTT CAN COUNT ON LARGE FINE ... EVEN THOUGH BILLS' COACH WAS CORRECT

 The NFL doesn’t like it when coaches go off on the officiating, invariably handing out stiff fines for negative post-game remarks, right or wrong

So … it will be interesting to see how much Buffalo’s

 SEAN McDERMOTT is hit for his comments in the 

aftermath of Saturday’s 33-30 overtime loss to Denver in 

the first round of the playoffs.

The William & Mary alumnus was especially steamed 

over an interception (that wasn’t) by the Broncos’ 

 JA’QUAN McMILLIAN, who took the ball away from 

receiver BRANDON COOKS after (as?) he hit the 

ground.

Referee CARL CHEFFERS gave the ball to Denver 

without checking the replay, which seemed strange given, 

if for no other reason, the importance of the game.

“It’s a shame,” McDermott was quoted as saying.”The 

fans deserve an explanation. The players certainly 

deserve an explanation. It’s a shame when a call like that 

dtermines a game … and the lead official can’t take time 

to check the monitor. I really don’t understand how that 

works.”

Had the call been over-ruled, the Bills were in position to 

kick the winning field goal. 

Later, Cheffers issued a statement that covered the 

interception, saying Cooks had not completed the play, 

“losing possession when he hit the ground,” and, 

therefore, McMillian had every right to take the ball away 

… but not his reluctance to use video replay and make 

sure they had made the right decision.

(Question: Since when can the ground cause a turnover? I 

mean, aren’t we being told constantly the ground can’t 

cause anything but … a bad bruise?)

McDermott said he called timeout to argue his case and 

give the officials more time “to do the right thing” but

 they would have none of it.

That wasn’t the only questionable thing that went against 

the Bills late in the game. With 19 seconds left in 

regulation, a clear pass interference in the end zone was 

missed, forcing Buffalo to kick a game-tying field 

goalinstead of going for the victory from the Denver

one yard line.

Finally, on the Broncos’ game-winning drive, DB

 TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE was called for pass 

interference that most people thought was poor, at best. 

ESPN’s DAN ORLOVSKY called it “another example 

of bad officiating.”

Getting the ball at its 11, Denver kicked a 23-yard field 

goal to win … but not before losing QB BO NIX with a 

broken ankle … and prompting coach SEAN PAYTON

 to take a big, BIG lead for Dumbest Comment of this (or 

any) Season.

After Nix, who has been primarily responsible for the 

Broncos' recent success that restored Peyton’s status as 

one of the league’s best, told the coach he had previous 

ankle trouble, Peyton said, “Had I known that we 

wouldn’t have drafted you.”

He was serious, I think. 

Until next time ..