Black and White and Terrible All Over

The Eagles have had to endure some terribly officiated games this season. Sunday was just the latest example. Overall, it appears that officiating has been mediocre across the league this year.

 

Here are some examples of questionable calls from Sunday’s game:

 

·         The 15 yard “unnecessary roughness” call on Lito Sheppard for his body slam. Neither player ever went out of bounds and no whistle blew. If refs are going to call that, then they need to be doubly sure not to give offensive players the extra yards if they manage to escape such holds in the future.

·         The defensive encroachment called when Juqua Thomas (?) jumped offsides and was jumping back onsides. It was getting back onto his side of the line of scrimmage that prompted the Giants offensive line to then jump. I knew defensive players could be called for enticing lineman to false start, but I didn’t realize that it could be called on a delayed basis or that the actual move prompting the false start could be jumping back into position.

·         The Antonio Pierce-Jason Avant pass interference at the end of the game. Some have tried to excuse the no call by suggesting that even if Avant had been allowed to catch the pass he would have been short of the first down. Nonsense. Avant was standing on the 38 yard line - exactly where the first down marker was. The only reason he "wouldn't have made the first even if he caught it" was because Antonio Pierce knocked him back to the 41 yard line.

·         Sam Madison holding Brian Westbrook in the backfield during the final frantic drive. Whey the referee did not call this blatant penalty is beyond me.

·         There were two others that I’m not sure about and have to review. Did the Giants d-line line up in the neutral zone on Akers’ kick? It was a penalty called earlier on the Eagles. The other is that at the game, both the Eagles holder Dorenbos, Akers, Rocca, and Reid were all pointing to the ball after the kick hit the upright. Not sure what that was all about – if the refs didn’t get the right “K ball” into the game under time pressures or what, but they were very animated though nothing was said after the game.