Football NFL execs upset after Head of Officiating seen on Cowboys' party bus - Page 9

tk13 · 08-07-2014, 10:44 PM

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/...-execs-say-yes

Quote:

"That's definitely Dean," said an official with one club upon viewing the video, in which a man looking very much like Blandino, in jeans and a blue t-shirt, steps off the bus along with Stephen Jones, son of Jerry Jones, who serves as the Cowboys COO, EVP and director of player personnel, and who is a member of the highly influential competition committee. "Is the league trying to tell you it's not him? What is the league telling you guys about it? That looks horrible. I can't think of another owner in the league who wouldn't be pissed off after seeing that."

Well, frankly the league is saying nothing. After receiving no response from the NFL on Tuesday as to whether Blandino -- who routinely makes rounds visiting with officials and clubs during the preseason -- was in the video, I made a second round of inquiries into the matter Thursday. Two spokesmen declined to say anything for the record. But no one came close to denying it was Blandino in the video, and the league could point out that with Jones on the competition committee, it's not unusual for him to spend considerable time with competition committee members.

But it would beyond disingenuous, to the point of insulting the public and other NFL member clubs, for anyone from the NFL to have the gall to claim this was anything close to resembling official business. At one point in the video there are a host of young girls assembled on the bus, and the bus is pulled right up in front of a club on the Sunset Strip.

Blandino has done an excellent job in his position, and is engaged and dynamic. Coaches and GMs enjoy dealing with him, he is always available and accessible, works tirelessly, and provides cogent explanations and recommendations to teams and media alike. Everyone I spoke to about the video raved about Blandino as a person and an official, but those same people were flabbergasted by the idea of someone in his position out partying on a team bus with an owner.

At issue is the perception of potential favoritism by other clubs, and the way these images are being perceived around the league.

"So, should I have my owner take him to a strip club when he visits us?" asked one team official, hypothetically. "Is that how it works? We like Dean a lot, but let me tell you, if that was him out with (the owner of a rival of the club this official works for), my owner would be going nuts. This just can't happen.

---

An official from another club said: "It's total hypocrisy. This is a league where some people are above the law, but if you are a coach or a player or a low-level team employee, look out -- they'll throw the book at you. They take away your pension. I'll give Stephen credit, at least they took a bus. (Colts owner Jim) Irsay should have got a bus a long time ago. Have they gotten around to disciplining him yet?"

Another longtime team official: "Whether or not this would in any way affect Dean's ability to be impartial with the Cowboys is really not the issue. This gives the appearance of impropriety. If I am a fan of a team facing the Cowboys, or I work for a team that's facing the Cowboys, I'm upset by this. There shouldn't be any situation like this going on that could cloud his judgment. How is this protecting the shield? The league loves to throw that term around when it applies to players. So how is this not an issue now?"

Another veteran NFL official: "If I were another team owner, how could I not be irate? It gives the appearance of impropriety, and looks like a particularly cozy relationship between a team and the officiating department at a time when instant replay is being taken over more and more by the league office. You're damn right I'd be irate."

MagicHef · 01-06-2015, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

This isn't nearly the same thing as Suh's. Stop being an idiot.

https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/505C6...06YR91SabIJc_Y

Mr. Laz · 01-06-2015, 04:45 PM

NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys
By Joseph Zucker , Featured Columnist Jan 5, 2015

NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys AP I

Dean Blandino, the NFL's head of officiating, revealed to Mike Florio on PFT Live that the officials in Sunday's Wild Card Game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys made an error in judgment on a contentious pass interference no-call in the fourth quarter, via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.

On Tuesday, the NFL admitted the officials missed a hold on Ndamukong Suh on a critical 4th down.

rabblerouser · 01-06-2015, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

you can't call a penalty on Dez for that ... that's stupid ... it impacted the play exactly 0%

people need to get over that right now

Well, why have anything regarding helmets in the rule book at all??

****, why even have any rules if the refs get to pick and choose what they enforce and how they enforce it??

This cartoon is jumping the shark.

rabblerouser · 01-06-2015, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys
By Joseph Zucker , Featured Columnist Jan 5, 2015

NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys AP I

Dean Blandino, the NFL's head of officiating, revealed to Mike Florio on PFT Live that the officials in Sunday's Wild Card Game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys made an error in judgment on a contentious pass interference no-call in the fourth quarter, via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.

On Tuesday, the NFL admitted the officials missed a hold on Ndamukong Suh on a critical 4th down.

'Ooops. We'll have to take an "our bad, dawg" on this one. Sorry Detroit. Meanwhile, everyone be sure to tune in to ICE BOWL II : THE REMATCH as Dallas travels to Green Bay in the postseason for the first time since the iconic 1967 classic...'

Pasta Little Brioni · 01-06-2015, 05:56 PM

I am suuuuuure the apology will make the fans feel good! Teams like KC and Detroit always seem to be on the short end of these game changing calls in close games. The game is a ****ing joke.

**Dartgod** · 01-06-2015, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiL stumppy

Players are not allowed to enter the field of play if they are not already on the field, especially without a helmet

The play was over. How is that illegal?

blaise · 01-07-2015, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

'Ooops. We'll have to take an "our bad, dawg" on this one. Sorry Detroit. Meanwhile, everyone be sure to tune in to ICE BOWL II : THE REMATCH as Dallas travels to Green Bay in the postseason for the first time since the iconic 1967 classic...'

Yeah all the kids are just dying for an Ice Bowl rematch.

Marcellus · 01-07-2015, 07:31 AM

So how do they decide what years they are going to favor certain teams?

Is it just Goodell involved or do all 32 owners work in collusion?

If not all 32 is there a secret society, basically a a Knights Templar of the NFL who get to be in the inner circle without the other owners knowing?

How many people exactly does it take to pull this off or is it simple direction telling the head official not to throw as many flags against one team?

What is the end game motivation for all of this? How much $ difference does it make the the league depending on what teams are in the playoffs? Aren't the TV contracts already secured prior to the playoffs starting? Maybe its the TV networks driving it! Then again only 1 network gets the SB.

This is all so complicated. I am still amazed they can pull this off yet cant get Ray Rice's punishment correct out the gate.

tomahawk kid · 01-07-2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

The real point that pisses people off is that there is too much inconsistency in penalties.

Penalties seem to depend on the player/team/situation rather than the action itself.

touch Tom Brady = roughing
body slam some middle tier QB = maybe, maybe not

pick play for most teams = penalty
pick play for Denver = no penalty

****heads pick and choose when/where to call stuff and THEY SEEM to play favorites

Tamba Hali should be suing some bitches. They cost him dozens of career sacks by allowing OTs to use a chokehold on him.

Nail. Head.

BigChiefFan · 01-07-2015, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Lol.

01-06-2015, 04:45 PM	#122
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys By Joseph Zucker , Featured Columnist Jan 5, 2015 NFL Admits Errors on Two Controversial Plays in Lions vs. Cowboys AP I Dean Blandino, the NFL's head of officiating, revealed to Mike Florio on PFT Live that the officials in Sunday's Wild Card Game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys made an error in judgment on a contentious pass interference no-call in the fourth quarter, via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. On Tuesday, the NFL admitted the officials missed a hold on Ndamukong Suh on a critical 4th down. __________________
Posts: 95,626

01-06-2015, 05:56 PM	#125
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3948880	I am suuuuuure the apology will make the fans feel good! Teams like KC and Detroit always seem to be on the short end of these game changing calls in close games. The game is a **ing joke. __________________ Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,576

01-07-2015, 07:31 AM	#128
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $3052662	So how do they decide what years they are going to favor certain teams? Is it just Goodell involved or do all 32 owners work in collusion? If not all 32 is there a secret society, basically a a Knights Templar of the NFL who get to be in the inner circle without the other owners knowing? How many people exactly does it take to pull this off or is it simple direction telling the head official not to throw as many flags against one team? What is the end game motivation for all of this? How much $ difference does it make the the league depending on what teams are in the playoffs? Aren't the TV contracts already secured prior to the playoffs starting? Maybe its the TV networks driving it! Then again only 1 network gets the SB. This is all so complicated. I am still amazed they can pull this off yet cant get Ray Rice's punishment correct out the gate.
Posts: 69,242