Ref tries to justify no whistle on blatant facemask

[Ewe83]

They can cry all they want, Bengals got the ball back with plenty of time to win it and they didn't get it done. Don't care about the facemask because unlike the Salty Saints our players and coach didn't cry about it for the rest of the game, they did what World Champions do, go out and find a way to win

 

[jrry32]

The ref wasn't in great position and got it wrong. Shit happens. We overcame it. That play is why I have no interest in hearing any whining from other NFL fans about the defensive holding call on Logan Wilson.

 

[ReekofRams]

I don’t understand how holding and unsportsmanlike penalties offset.
Holding is a ten yard penalty. Unsportsmanlike conduct is a fifteen yard penalty. So why doesn’t the offense gain five yards?

Holding was during the play, unsportsmanlike conduct was after the play. They should not offset.

 

[majrleaged]

Didn't the refs take away a Rams touchdown on a penalty in the last 2 minutes?
Or was I watching a different game?
Isn't taking 6 points off the board a bigger impact than getting 4 yards and a new set of downs?

Yes. Plus its funny how the called a hold on our lineman but over looked an even more blatant hold on our team in the same area, same play.

 

[Force16X]

That might be an understatement. Couldn't they just say, we were not calling any penalties per the league office? They cover lie that nobody believes.

that's how games (and bets) get fixed. shame that its so blatant at times. like the shit call against the raiders back vs the patriots.

 

[Flatlyner]

I don't quite understand why the NFL doesn't have the refs in NY hit a button for review on huge game changing plays like that. Its 2022, we have all the camera angles in 4K at the touch of a button. In the biggest game of the year, shouldn't we want a huge missed call recognized? Hell, I'm even fine if that means that the PI on Kupp is reversed, we might not have even needed that score without the terrible no call that resulted in a huge TD.

 

[Tano]

Right. Even the close Kupp call, which I will acknowledge is a bad call, but on that play, if you are looking full speed, Kupp jerks himself in a way that could fool a ref into thinking the DB pulled him. Wrong call, but real fast its easy to think it was PI. All the other calls were defensible on that series to me. Atleast from what I saw watching live.

I don't think it was a bad call at all.

The DB definitely grabbed Kupp and kept Kupp from catching the ball (especially the PI).

They were good calls imho.

 

[Turducken]

Question: On the long touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, it looked like there could have been offensive pass interference. Just wondering what your crew saw and why that wasn’t called?

Torbert: “The crew did not see any contact that warranted pass interference. It was a contested catch, and the crew didn’t see any contact that rose to the level of pass interference.”

Question: So, both sides were going at it pretty good, so, no call?

Torbert: “Well, the crew didn’t see contact that rose to the level of offensive pass interference.”

Question: It looked on the replay as if Higgins had the facemask of Jalen Ramsey. Was an official not in a position to spot that?

Torbert: “Our rule is that if there is a grab and twist and turn, there’s enough for a foul. If there’s just a rake across the facemask, where there’s not a twist and turn even if there’s a grab, there is no foul. The officials did not see any contact that rose to the level of a foul for a 15-yard facemask.”

Question: So, they did not see a twist and turn?

Torbert: “Yes, that’s correct.”

That's just a long-winded way of saying "we missed it."

 

[SWAdude]

That's just a long-winded way of saying "we missed it."

I will give a short winded Ramsey was in position to intercept the ball more than Higgins so he grabbed Ramsay’s mask and threw him on the ground. It was not a good pass. Under thrown actually.

 

[ReekofRams]

Question: On the long touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, it looked like there could have been offensive pass interference. Just wondering what your crew saw and why that wasn’t called?

Torbert: “The crew did not see any contact that warranted pass interference. It was a contested catch, and the crew didn’t see any contact that rose to the level of pass interference.”

Question: So, both sides were going at it pretty good, so, no call?

Torbert: “Well, the crew didn’t see contact that rose to the level of offensive pass interference.”

Question: It looked on the replay as if Higgins had the facemask of Jalen Ramsey. Was an official not in a position to spot that?

Torbert: “Our rule is that if there is a grab and twist and turn, there’s enough for a foul. If there’s just a rake across the facemask, where there’s not a twist and turn even if there’s a grab, there is no foul. The officials did not see any contact that rose to the level of a foul for a 15-yard facemask.”

Question: So, they did not see a twist and turn?

Torbert: “Yes, that’s correct.”

He didn’t just rake his face mask, he yanked on it and pulled Ramsey past him so Higgins could catch the ball.

 

[AZRams]

Question: On the long touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, it looked like there could have been offensive pass interference. Just wondering what your crew saw and why that wasn’t called?

Torbert: “The crew did not see any contact that warranted pass interference. It was a contested catch, and the crew didn’t see any contact that rose to the level of pass interference.”

Question: So, both sides were going at it pretty good, so, no call?

Torbert: “Well, the crew didn’t see contact that rose to the level of offensive pass interference.”

Question: It looked on the replay as if Higgins had the facemask of Jalen Ramsey. Was an official not in a position to spot that?

Torbert: “Our rule is that if there is a grab and twist and turn, there’s enough for a foul. If there’s just a rake across the facemask, where there’s not a twist and turn even if there’s a grab, there is no foul. The officials did not see any contact that rose to the level of a foul for a 15-yard facemask.”

Question: So, they did not see a twist and turn?

Torbert: “Yes, that’s correct.”

Then they are fucking blind.

 

[AZRams]

You didn't need to see the hand on the face mask. You could see Ramsey's head getting jerked around all the way from the nose bleed seats.

Not to mention his trajectory changed. He literally is falling forward and towards the sideline after being step-for-step with the receiver.

What the fuck you watching Zebra?!

 

[FaulkSF]

I don't think it was a bad call at all.

The DB definitely grabbed Kupp and kept Kupp from catching the ball (especially the PI).

They were good calls imho.

It was, but the rule book uses the key word restricting. Kupp was never restricted from catching the ball on the play. I'm fine with you disagreeing Tano, I think some of us would have let that one go if we were wearing stripes. The rule book can be vague and not cover every type of play and action, which then requires a subjective call by the official.

Conversely, Jalen was restricted from making a play on the ball when he had his facemask grabbed and turned. Should have been a flag. OPI or facemask, pick your poison.

 

[Tano]

It was, but the rule book uses the key word restricting. Kupp was never restricted from catching the ball on the play. I'm fine with you disagreeing Tano, I think some of us would have let that one go if we were wearing stripes. The rule book can be vague and not cover every type of play and action, which then requires a subjective call by the official.

Conversely, Jalen was restricted from making a play on the ball when he had his facemask grabbed and turned. Should have been a flag. OPI or facemask, pick your poison.

Maybe the hold he wasn't restricted but the PI, Kupp was definitely restricted.

I thought they were going to call a holding call again and I saw the replay and I immediately said that is PI.

Kupp was kept from catching a TD on that PI call.

But whenever I see a shirt being tugged back, I believe more often that not, a holding call will be called. And Kupps shirt was held a second on that hold call. It was quick so it could have been a non-call.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Holding was during the play, unsportsmanlike conduct was after the play. They should not offset.

Agreed

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

He didn’t just rake his face mask, he yanked on it and pulled Ramsey past him so Higgins could catch the ball.

Impressive body control by Higgins to pull that all off

 

[Picked4td]

i personally understand the ref viewpoint. live and even 1st replay from behind i never woulda have thought it was a facemask. you really need the right view and slow mo to see it imo. I think its a similar situation with the 3rd down holding against the cards. On replay you can easily make a case it wasnt a hold but from the refs view point the lb was beat and had his arm around kupp, so gonna look like a hold to them live

I think refs too often get a bad rap for incorrect or missed calls, yet everyone makes these judgements after seeing different angles and slow mo which the refs dont get the luxury of having (reviews aside). Personally i think that was some of the best reffing ive seen and almost perfect in terms of what you'd want from the refs going into any game, so no complaints from me

 

[ReekofRams]

Impressive body control by Higgins to pull that all off

Check the replay if you don’t believe it.

 

[Flint]

I thought Jalen fell down, I thought he lost his balance like the play in Tampa when Evans got him. It was really quick, just a quick tug and Jalen went flying. I didn’t see it til the replay but then my eyes ain’t what they used to be.

 

[BC Ramfan]

i personally understand the ref viewpoint. live and even 1st replay from behind i never woulda have thought it was a facemask. you really need the right view and slow mo to see it imo. I think its a similar situation with the 3rd down holding against the cards. On replay you can easily make a case it wasnt a hold but from the refs view point the lb was beat and had his arm around kupp, so gonna look like a hold to them live

I think refs too often get a bad rap for incorrect or missed calls, yet everyone makes these judgements after seeing different angles and slow mo which the refs dont get the luxury of having (reviews aside). Personally i think that was some of the best reffing ive seen and almost perfect in terms of what you'd want from the refs going into any game, so no complaints from me

This is why the NFL needs a Sky Judge Ref (or a team of them).
When millions around the world can immediately and clearly see a crucial, game changing foul that the refs somehow missed why in the hell doesn't the NFL allow refs to access the TV feeds when assessing play?

Obviously they don't because they don't want to.
Doesn't reflect well on the NFL's commitment to honest, fair adjudication.
I believe they have described themselves legally as "sports entertainment", not "sports".
Hmmm . . .

BC