Page 21 - AT

A21
SPORTS Wednesday 23 OctOber 2019

NFL officiating Ed Hochuli's retirement, you common infraction: illegal
lose him and the three oth-
blocks in the back on kick
ers, that's four of your top returns such as the one that
Continued from Page 18 five referees by anybody's negated the Cowboys' 80-
standard." yard punt return for a TD
Matthews had the harsh- Their departures also leave Sunday night .
est comments of the three, a pool of officials lighter on "That penalty is avoidable,
tweeting about what he experience to face what and the official should not
considers the officials' "in- amounts to constant per- be lax and loosen up with
ability to make the accu- formance evaluations from it. That's not the answer,"
rate and correct calls" and their ex-cohorts as they Polian said. "Players need
how the NFL's head of offi- enforce an ever-changing to play within the rules."
ciating, Al Riveron, "contin- rule book. Dungy agrees.
ues to blindly side with his The league's loss, however, But he's already made
refs and the current status is the game's gain, suggest- up his mind about one
quo." ed Polian. change he doesn't like:
The denouncements came Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, tight, yells at referees "I think they're a great addi- coaches' challenges for
not long after the NFL sent during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, tion to the broadcast and calls and non-calls on pass
a memo to all 32 teams Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 in Seattle, Wash. a great reference point for interference that were ap-
reminding them that the Associated Press fans, who are no longer proved for this season after
league prohibits criticism of that are called during the make sense of all the yel- captive to people on the the Saints were victimized
officiating, including post- action." low flags flying around. internet that masquerade by a non-call on a blatant
ing "negative or deroga- As Dungy recently tweet- It's a double whammy. as officiating supervisors," interference in the NFC
tory/demeaning content ed, "You don't see Patriots Losing the likes of Mike Polian said. "And I think championship game, help-
pertaining to officiating on with huge penalty num- Pereira, Dean Blandino, they're very objective, but ing the Rams advance to
social media." bers. Coaching matters." John Parry, Terry McAulay they're also cognizant of the Super Bowl.
While the league tamped Longtime NFL writer Rick and Gene Steratore to the what a tough job it is that "There are going to be things
down on its internal de- Gosselin noted recently broadcast booth had pro- the officials have. that are missed. That's part
cent, NBC analyst Tony that NFL games so far are duced a brain drain from "The short answer from my of the game," Dungy said.
Dungy said players and averaging about 15 penal- the ranks of NFL officials. point of view is that we "The NFC championship
coaches actually share in ties for 125 yards a game, "There is no question about do not have an officiating game, there was a missed
the blame for the flurry of up from about a dozen that, none whatsoever," problem. Do we miss the call — too bad. I feel bad
flags because there's an flags for 97 yards a decade said Hall of Fame execu- guys that are not on the for New Orleans.
insufficient focus on funda- ago, and he added, "The tive Bill Polian. "I mean, field? You bet. Do they do But it happens. It's hap-
mentals as teams instead more the flags, the worse you're talking about this a good job on TV? In my pened every year since
spotlight X's and O's and the game." year alone, Terry McAulay, view, they do a tremen- football began playing. So,
their schemes. And the louder the criti- John Parry, Gene Steratore, dous job and they do a to have this rule now and
As a coach, Dungy empha- cism. I mean, they'd be in the top great service to officiating to say we're going to sud-
sized eliminating pre-snap There's another dynamic five in any given year that by explaining it." denly eliminate or help out
penalties and post-whistle at work with the league's they worked. And they're Polian said he'll withhold this one particular call that
fouls, which he called "half officiating crews also fac- referees on top of that, judgment on the league's everybody saw, now we've
the battle. Now we work on ing scrutiny from their for- so they know all the rules, emphasis on backside of- got all the unintended
the fundamentals and do- mer colleagues as TV net- they know all the interpre- fensive holding this season consequences (like wildly
ing things the right way so works hire away the most tations; they understand until there's a year's worth inconsistent rulings). I think
we can cut down as much seasoned officials to serve what goes on at virtually of data, but he said there's this whole thing has been a
as we can the penalties as rules analysts and help every position. And then really no disputing another disaster."q

AP source: Falcons trade receiver

Mohamed Sanu to Patriots

By PAUL NEWBERRY and off to its worst start training camp. He is eligi-
AP Sports Writer since 2007. ble to return to the roster
ATLANTA (AP) — The At- The 30-year-old Sanu in Week 9.
lanta Falcons traded re- heads to the reigning Su- “See you soon,” Brady
ceiver Mohamed Sanu to per Bowl champion Pa- tweeted to his newest re-
the New England Patriots triots (7-0). He gives quar- ceiver.
for a second-round draft terback Tom Brady an- Sanu has 33 receptions
pick in 2020, according to other target in a dynamic for 313 yards and one
a person within the NFL. offense that leads the touchdown this season,
The person spoke to The league in scoring at nearly his fourth with the Falcons
Associated Press on con- 32 points a game. after spending his first four In this Oct. 13, 2019 file photo, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
dition of anonymity be- Sanu joins a receiving years with the Cincinnati Mohamed Sanu pauses (12) during an NFL football game
cause the teams were corps that includes Super Bengals. against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.
still completing Tuesday’s Bowl MVP Julian Edel- He had a career-high 67 Associated Press
deal, which was first re- man, Josh Gordon, Phil- catches for the Falcons in owner Arthur Blank, gen- “Mr. Blank, TD, Coach Q,
ported by ESPN. lip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers 2017 and followed up with eral manager Thomas & everyone through the
The move signaled the and Gunner Olszewski. The 66 catches for a career- Dimitroff and coach Dan organization, I am forever
Falcons are already look- Patriots also have N’Keal best 838 yards last season. Quinn. grateful for the opportu-
ing to the future just seven Harry, a first-round pick in Sanu tweeted his excite- “I appreciate everything nity. To my Teammates &
weeks into the season. this year’s draft who went ment at joining the Patriots the organization has fan y’all know how I feel
Atlanta (1-6) is mired in a on injured reserve after and thanked the Falcons done for my family & I,” about y’all love y’all to
five-game losing streak hurting an ankle during organization, including Sanu wrote on Twitter. death. #ThankYou.”q