Dean Blandino defends controversial face mask call

[gmf1369]

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Arguably, the biggest reason for the Green Bay Packers' 27-23 victory other than a Hail Mary was a critical personal foul call on Detroit Lions' defensive end Devin Taylor which led to the long pass even happening.
While attempting to chase Aaron Rodgers down, Taylor swiped at Rogers, appearing to catch a piece of his face mask and shoulder pad in the process. It might not have been a pure face mask, but the contact was enough for the officials to throw the flag and give Green Bay one last chance at victory.
After the game, NFL director of officiating Dean Blandino took to Twitter to defend the call his referees made.

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For his part, Jim Caldwell didn't seem to agree with the call after the fact, but maintained it was Detroit's job to find a way to make one more play. They couldn't, and the Packers won a thriller.

 

[HYATT™]

Such is the state of vague rules, used to fix NFL games.
If that particular call was the standard for calling a face masking penalty, then nearly every play in every single NFL game every week would be one long blizzard of yellow hankies - because SOMEWHERE on the field, on 99.9999% of all plays, there is that sort of incidental contact made with a face mask on at least 1 player, by an opponent.
Its one of those thingys you can't PROVE, but you KNOW it's true.

In the '09 WC game against AZ, Aaron Rodgers suffered a more egregious grab by a Cards player and it was NOT called. The play resulted in a fumble by #12 that was returned for 6 points and the game, in OT.

 

[isired]

It was a terrible call - questionable whether it was even in line with the letter of the rule, but certainly not the spirit or intent of the rule. Like the "catch" rules, I think they need to simplify: did he grab the facemask? Did he catch/have possession of the ball? We knew these things inherently when we see the plays, in life motion usually but certainly in replay.

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[Elias]

I feel like these rules and managing the game are getting more and more complicated

 

[LGM]

They need to bring back the 5 yard no first down incidental face mask rule

As for a catch they have to eliminate the difference between a receiver and a RB

Simple

Two hands on ball- two feet down = catch

Ball crosses plane = TD for both

But they wont because its pretty obvious that the current group of incompetent part timers masquerading as football officials are probably 90% in the pocket of gambling syndicates

Smells a lot like

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