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Thursday 6 december 2018

Week 13 chock full of bad calls and bad looks for the NFL

By ARNIE STAPLETON Reuben Foster’s domestic
AP Pro Football Writer violence arrest “small pota-
Just when the NFL was en- toes” compared to crimes
joying a ratings rebound committed by people in
and an explosion of offen- power.
sive firepower that has fans The Redskins took plenty of
giddy over their favorite heat after claiming Foster
and/or fantasy teams, the off waivers from the San
league reverted to its bum- Francisco 49ers, who re-
bling ways in Week 13. leased him Tuesday, three
It began with a prime-time days after he was arrested
officiating fiasco by its most and charged with domes-
experienced crew. tic violence in Tampa, Flor-
The poor performance by ida.
referee Walt Anderson’s Sunday’s games brought
crew Thursday night sullied another slew of gaffes.
an otherwise classic Saints- Most notable was the Los
Cowboys showdown that Angeles Chargers getting
reminded everyone de- away with a blatant false
fense can be sexy, too. start on a touchdown for
Jaylon Smith’s helmet-to- the second time this sea-
helmet hit on Alvin Kamara son.
was the most egregious In October, Chargers right
non-call, one that Fox In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt warms up for the tackle Russell Okung wasn’t
Sports rules analyst Mike team’s NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston. whistled for an obvious
Pereira called “a clear ex- Associated Press false start on a touchdown
ample of leading with the play against Cleveland,
crown of the helmet.” the chains. boys likely would have run bad news for the league and shortly afterward, the
Just feet away from the ille- Out of challenges, Payton twice, forcing the Saints to when TMZ released surveil- NFL fired down judge Hugo
gal hit were field judge Terry was helpless to get the call call their final timeout and lance video of Kareem Cruz for inadequate perfor-
Brown and line judge Byron reviewed, and because it running more time off the Hunt shoving and kicking mance.
Boston, both of whom kept was outside of 2 minutes clock. A field goal would a woman in an altercation On Sunday night in Pitts-
their yellow flags tucked and not a scoring play, the have left the Saints down that ultimately led to the burgh, the Chargers did it
safely away as New Or- league’s hands were tied, six with about 45 seconds star running back’s release again , only this time it was
leans coach Sean Payton too. for Drew Brees to try to pull from the Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Sam Tevi who
went ballistic. Payton had his own inex- off some last-minute mag- and landed Hunt on the clearly jumped early on
Just under the six-minute plicable blunder after the ic. commissioner’s exempt list. Philip River’s 46-yard touch-
mark came the most cru- teams traded takeaways in But the timeout at 2:03 On Sunday, Hunt told ESPN down throw to Travis Benja-
cial bad call. the final minutes. meant the Cowboys could that the league had never min.
With the Cowboys fac- After Dallas got the ball throw on second down interviewed him about the “We’ve seen it before and it
ing third-and-5 from the back at the Saints 16 with knowing the clock would matter, which prompted led to a dismissal. I certainly
50-yard line, Saints corner- 2:08 left, Ezekiel Elliott ran for stop regardless once the the NFL to release a state- hope that doesn’t happen
back P.J. Williams tackled 2 yards and Payton burned play was over. A pass inter- ment defending itself . again,” said Pereira, noting
Cowboys receiver Cole his last timeout three sec- ference call gave them a Hunt was cut the same day “that was a miss that was
Beasley a full yard shy of onds before the 2-minute first down and they ran out Washington Redskins exec- on the same level as the
the first-down marker, but warning. the clock. utive Doug Williams apolo- one” in October.q
the officials said to move Had he waited, the Cow- The next day brought more gized for calling linebacker

NFL refs back official accused

of calling player vulgar name

By JOHN WAWROW ecutive director Scott cess,” Green said.
AP Sports Writer Green says the associa- TV video shows the player
The NFL Referees Associa- tion expects the NFL’s in- confronting Ellison in the
tion is questioning why the vestigation to clear Ellison tunnel near the locker
league isn’t focusing more while turning the focus on room and accusing him of
attention on Bills defensive Hughes. using a derogatory term.
end Jerry Hughes for threat- Green says Hughes has a Hughes waved his index fin-
ening umpire Roy Ellison fol- history of being flagged for ger and shouted, “I’ll catch
lowing Buffalo’s game at personal misconduct and you! I’ll catch you, guaran-
Miami last weekend. arguing with officials. teed!” before being pulled
Ellison has been placed “While we are disappoint- away by a teammate.
on administrative leave ed that the NFL has yet to Ellison was suspended in
At left, in a Jan. 7, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Bills defensive
end Jerry Hughes (55) leaves the field after an NFL wild-card while the NFL investigates address that aspect of the 2013 for making a deroga-
playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hughes’ accusation that incident, we look forward tory statement to Washing-
in Jacksonville, Fla. At right, in a Nov. 19, 2015, file photo, Ellison called him a vulgar to working with the league ton tackle Trent Williams
umpire Roy Ellison (81) gestures during the third quarter of name during the game. during its review, and will during a game.q
an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and In a statement released ensure that Roy’s rights are
Tennessee Titans, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Wednesday, NFLRA ex- protected during this pro-