To watch the video click on the following link http://qasemnews.com/vb/showthread.php?t=367 http://attarmms.com/vb/showthread.php?t=154393 Referee offers explanation for controversial reversed call in Cowboys-Lions On Sunday night NFL referee Pete Morelli offered an explanation for a controversial reversed pass-interference call in the fourth quarter of the NFC Wild Card Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions. After initially throwing a flag for pass interference on the play, during which the Cowboys’ Anthony Hitchens appeared to interfere with Lions’ Brandon Pettigrew, the officials picked up the flag and did not explain why the call was reversed. Here are comments from Morelli after the game: When asked why he overturned the call, Morelli answered: “The back judge flew his flag for pass interference. We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn’t warrant pass interference. He thought it was face-guarding.” Morelli then clarified that it was the head linesman who made the call, and the officials thought he had a better angle than the back judge. He also stated that face-guarding, while a foul in college football, is not a foul in the NFL. Despite the explanation, former Vice President of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira went on Fox Sports and said the officials got the call wrong. Refs pick up pass-interference flag without explanation after Cowboys complain The Referees Picked Up A Critical Pass Interference Flag On Dallas And No One Knows Why Cowboys gets a break against Lions when refs pick up flag without explanation Refs give Cowboys a gift with pass interference no-call Refs pick up pass-interference flag without explanation after Cowboys complain The Referees Picked Up A Critical Pass Interference Flag On Dallas And No One Knows Why Cowboys gets a break against Lions when refs pick up flag without explanation Refs give Cowboys a gift with pass interference no-call Midway through the 4th quarter of the Lions-Cowboys Wild Card game, Matthew Stafford attempted a pass on 3rd and 1 for tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The pass was broken up by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, who was flagged for pass interference for contacting Pettigrew and not looking back for the ball. Weirdness enveloped the fourth quarter of the NFC wild-card game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions when game officials dropped a flag on the ‘Boys for pass interference, announced it, picked it up and went on their merry way. With the Lions facing third-and-1 at midfield in the fourth quarter today in Dallas, Matthew Stafford threw a pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The pass fell incomplete, but the officials called pass interference, giving the Lions a first down. And then something bizarre happened: Referee Pete Morelli, who announced the pass interference call, didn’t enforce it. He signaled fourth down and didn’t explain why he was waving off the penalty on the Cowboys. NFL pundits and fans were bewildered during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Game, when Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew ran a route and appeared to be obstructed by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, who never turned to face the ball while it was in the air. An official threw a flag, and the referee called out a pass interference penalty. Cowboys get a break against Lions when refs pick up flag without explanation Weirdness enveloped the fourth quarter of the NFC wild-card game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions when game officials dropped a flag on the ‘Boys for pass interference, announced it, picked it up and went on their merry way. It was, shall we say, a gift for the Cowboys. The weirdness went down on third and 1 when Matthew Stafford’s pass for Brandon Matthews fell incomplete at midfield. Referee Pete Morelli made the call on Anthony Hitchens but didn’t enforce it, signaling fourth down. The thing is, P.I. was clearly the right call, as Mike Pereira, the league’s former head of officiating and now a Fox Sports commentator said “It is clearly pass interference,” Pereira said. “I strongly believe that was not a good pickup of a flag.” That wasn’t the end of it, though. Dez Bryant was on the field, arguing the Cowboys’ case. There was some ‘splainin’ to do after this one, even if it was only part of the reasons the Lions lost. “It wasn’t good enough,” was all Lions Coach Jim Caldwell would say of the officials’ explanation. After spending most of her career in traditional print sports journalism, Cindy began blogging and tweeting, first as NFL/Redskins editor, and, since August 2010, at The Early Lead. She also is the social media editor for Sports. Refs give Cowboys a gift with pass interference no-call With the Lions facing third-and-1 at midfield in the fourth quarter today in Dallas, Matthew Stafford threw a pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

• published: 05 Jan 2015
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