Althouse: "A girl being like, 'Um this guy didn’t report.' Is the most female ref way to ruin a game."

December 31, 2023

"A girl being like, 'Um this guy didn’t report.' Is the most female ref way to ruin a game."

A tweet I found after Meade put some time into trying to explain what happened in that Lions game, but I got tired of the explanation. First time I'd ever heard of this "report" concept. In any event, I'd seen this headline earlier this morning — "Lions rip refs for penalizing first 2-point try: 'don’t want to talk about it'" — and got excited reading the first 2 words, then realized it was about football and got bored.

70 comments:

rehajm said...: Is this the eligible receiver thing? The Pats won a playoff game against the Ravens with that crappy rule. Tell Beleuchick what the rules are…; 12/31/23, 11:03 AM
Joe Smith said...: It's a pretty basic rule in football.

If you want someone wearing his number (numbers matter in football) to be a receiver, he has to tell the referee who then announces it so the other team knows who can catch the ball.

There are also rules about where he can take his place on the line of scrimmage which he also (I believe) violated in any regard.

What people should be talking about is why the Lion's coach didn't take an easy field goal earlier in the game...; 12/31/23, 11:03 AM
Original Mike said...: There was a Chiefs game this year where, like in last night's game, the losing team ripped the refs for making the correct call. Bad look, guys.; 12/31/23, 11:08 AM
Marcus Bressler said...: Rules? Rules are for the little people.
I don't watch any pro sports. They went woke and eff em.
I will attend a Super Bowl party; two years ago I won three of the big payouts on the football score pool. I was getting some nasty looks from the others when it was announced each time. Hey, it isn't as if I picked the numbers that are "good" score numbers or multiples thereof. I just wrote my name in a blank square.

MarcusB. THEOLDMAN; 12/31/23, 11:09 AM
rcocean said...: "Then realized it was about football and got bored"

ha.

Having female Refs is a good way to ruin the NFL, so i hope they get more of them. And please hire more TV female announcers and analysts. Maybe if they put enough Girls in the Boys NFL treehouse, they'll realize what a joke it is, and go watch something better.

IRC, the NBA not only has female refs, they have female coaches. Making the league even more absurd then I thought possible.; 12/31/23, 11:11 AM
Gusty Winds said...: The NFL now openly promotes online gambling. Millions, if not billions are bet each week.

If they are going to make money off gambling commercials, these types of mistakes shouldn't happen.; 12/31/23, 11:13 AM
Meade said...: Note to self: never bother Meadesplaining to a girl no matter how cute she is.; 12/31/23, 11:30 AM
Rocco said...: Joe Smith said...
"If you want someone wearing his number (numbers matter in football) to be a receiver, he has to tell the referee who then announces it so the other team knows who can catch the ball."

Players on offense wearing numbers 50-79 are ineligible, unless they report to the referee that they are eligible for that play.

The refs say that #68 reported as eligible, but that #70 did not. #70 swears he reported as eligible; #68 emphatically said that he (#68) did not report.

#70 lined up as an inline tight end (normally an eligible position) and caught the pass. #68 lined up at right table (normally an ineligible position) and blocked on the play like an ineligible player would.; 12/31/23, 11:31 AM
RMc said...: As a longtime Lions fan, I wasn't even fazed at the call. I've seen this too many times in the past!; 12/31/23, 11:32 AM
MayBee said...: He reported! The ref got confused about which player reported!

As a Lions fan, I believe Lions should be able to rip the refs, gladiator fight style.; 12/31/23, 11:33 AM
donald said...: I think I just lost a post. Looks like the lineman did not make it clear he was reporting on his casual stroll towards the referee, who was paying no attention to him. It’s common in pro football for players (And coaches) to pay little or no attention to reporting and lining up properly. I speak from 30 plus years officiating football, the last 7 as a white hat in high school football. I guarantee that’s what happened.; 12/31/23, 11:34 AM
Rocco said...: Ann Althouse said...
"In any event, I'd seen this headline earlier this morning — "'Lions rip refs for penalizing first 2-point try: 'don’t want to talk about it'" — and got excited reading the first 2 words, then realized it was about football and got bored."

You got exciting reading "ARLINGTON, Texas"?

Oh you mean the headline, not the article.; 12/31/23, 11:35 AM
The Tangerine Tornado said...: They screwed it up. The guy they claimed "didn't report" is shown on video going right up to the ref and nodding his head, then returning to the huddle. Something he has absolutely no reason to do in any other circumstance. You don't run up to the ref to tell him you're not reporting.

Before anyone starts talking about the other Lions lineman near the ref at the same time, that doesn't matter unless you are claiming they told the ref "don't listen to #68, he's a goddamn liar". I'm a Giants fan and don't care one bit about the outcome of this game. It's just a bad look for the NFL. It's a hard job but they need to do better.; 12/31/23, 11:37 AM
donald said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/31/23, 11:38 AM
Kakistocracy said...: @ Meade: I think we should let the voters decide whether the Lions won.; 12/31/23, 11:40 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: "got excited reading the first 2 words, then realized it was about football and got bored."

This we have in common.; 12/31/23, 11:49 AM
n.n said...: Sex or gender differences is news in the woke (sic) of progressive conflation with social progress.; 12/31/23, 11:50 AM
Ralph L said...: It's the early Christian McCaffrey who gets the best Lion.; 12/31/23, 11:53 AM
Wilbur said...: I seem to recall in other games that the referee announces over his PA mic that "Number __ is eligible".

That didn't happen here?; 12/31/23, 12:08 PM
Joe Smith said...: '#70 lined up as an inline tight end (normally an eligible position) and caught the pass. #68 lined up at right table (normally an ineligible position) and blocked on the play like an ineligible player would.'

Number 68 (Decker) caught the pass.; 12/31/23, 12:25 PM
gadfly said...: No, the Cowboys are not, nor will they ever be, "America's Team" but the Monday Night Football announcers and Jimmy Johnson will not admit to this. The Packers are and will forever be "America's Team" as best that I can determine from my travels around the county.

But when Amon-Ra St. Brown got clobbered by a Cowboy defensive back in the middle of the field during the final drive, the referees couldn't find a flag to throw with owner Jerry Jones watching from his Luxury Suite along with all his honored "ring" players.; 12/31/23, 12:26 PM
ALP said...: "Meade put some time into trying to explain what happened in that Lions game, but I got tired of the explanation."

Ann, this is the most down to earth, wholesome thing I've read on this blog! Tell me, do you cut Meade off once tired of the monologue, or have you developed the LTR strategy of looking interested, but thinking about something else?; 12/31/23, 12:26 PM
Readering said...: I hate the Cowboys but must add they were informed about the reporting (right or wring) and did not cover they lineman who caught the pass.; 12/31/23, 12:43 PM
Barry Dauphin said...: The refs screwed this up. Not only did number 68 report himself as an eligible receiver, as is clearly visible on the tape, after being directed by the quarterback to do just that. But the coach went over this very play with the officiating crew before the game even started. They knew this was coming, or certainly should have known. The players did exactly what they were supposed to do. The ref made a mistake and thought that only one player was eligible. However, Dan Campbell, compounded the problem by stubbornly going for two after the penalty instead of kicking the extra point and going for overtime. I understood going for two in the first place, but being pushed 5 yards further back, and not really practicing a play for two points from the 7 yard line, he should’ve swallowed his anger and gone for the extra point.; 12/31/23, 12:48 PM
Original Mike said...: "What people should be talking about is why the Lion's coach didn't take an easy field goal earlier in the game..."

Campbell is proud of his dumb decisions. He lost the Thanksgiving Packers-Lions game by calling a fake punt on his own 20.; 12/31/23, 12:51 PM
Original Mike said...: The rules analyst on the broadcast said the Lions committed 3 fouls related to the #68 and #70 kerfuffle. I admit, I didn't pay enough attention to figure it out.; 12/31/23, 12:56 PM
Humperdink said...: Rich, responding to me on the cafe thread: "I think we should let the voters decide whether the Lions won."

Do you go out of your way to make the most sophomoric comments or does it just come naturally?; 12/31/23, 1:09 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: Help me understand the facts. After 70 "reported," did the refs ANNOUNCE same to the Cowboys?; 12/31/23, 1:20 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: For any play confusion on the field go to @jomboy_ and @JomboyMedia for the authoritative horses mouth (lip reading) conclusion.; 12/31/23, 1:30 PM
MayBee said...: reporting on his casual stroll towards the referee,

He stands right next to the referee! The guy casually strolling toward the referee is the one they are saying *did* report. They got it wrong. 70 had been reporting throughout the game, and the ref thought it was him again.; 12/31/23, 1:42 PM
donald said...: Whoops, didn’t know that it had been discussed as a trick play.; 12/31/23, 1:50 PM
Ann Althouse said...: “ Tell me, do you cut Meade off once tired of the monologue, or have you developed the LTR strategy of looking interested, but thinking about something else?”

Neither. He doesn’t monologue and I don’t cut him off. He knows I’m only interested up to a point and I’m nice about letting him know. We get each other.; 12/31/23, 2:05 PM
DanTheMan said...: This just in... the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled the Lions ineligible for the playoffs...; 12/31/23, 2:13 PM
Joe Smith said...: "No, the Cowboys are not, nor will they ever be, "America's Team" but the Monday Night Football announcers and Jimmy Johnson will not admit to this."

Gadfly doesn't know why there is a hole in the Cowboy's stadium roof.

So God can watch His team play : )

Btw, I'm just telling the joke, I'm a long-suffering Raiders fan...; 12/31/23, 2:14 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'I seem to recall in other games that the referee announces over his PA mic that "Number __ is eligible".'

As far as I know, if a normally ineligible receiver reports as eligible, it is announced so the opposing team knows about it.

You cannot tell the ref in secret and then run the trick play.

That's not how it works...; 12/31/23, 2:17 PM
Joe Bar said...: The coach set the table for the error. He had the three players all approach the referee at once, to confuse the other team. He confused the wrong person. The announced elligible player was #70.; 12/31/23, 2:18 PM
Mason G said...: Rich, responding to me on the cafe thread: "I think we should let the voters decide whether the Lions won."

Since we're not letting them decide elections these days, it's only fair they have a say in something, don't you think?; 12/31/23, 2:19 PM
mikee said...: Following the rules so there is no chance of being called out for failure to do so is one thing. Following the rules in such a manner as to confuse the ref about it, is to invite a a possibly bad call against you.; 12/31/23, 2:32 PM
Ampersand said...: The existence of legalized betting creates a dark possible explanation for Coach Campbell's weird decisions at the end. The Cowboys were 5.5 point favorites. The only way a person who bet the Lions with the point spread could lose was if the game went into overtime and the Cowboys scored a TD. Did that happen? Very unlikely, but once you legalize gambling, funny stuff will happen.; 12/31/23, 2:36 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Engelbert: Was the reason the referee ruled the Lions player ineligible due to the 14th Amendment? Critics say this may have a negative effect on Dan Campbell's presidential hopes…..; 12/31/23, 2:36 PM
Temujin said...: As a lifelong Lions fan...I'm used to this shit. I'm also used to having to explain to my wife why it matters, and why it gets me so worked up. And I do note the moment I lose her. Her eyes shift from engaged to 'Out of Office', and I can only wonder what it is she's thinking about as she's looking at me. Tennis. Some murder mystery on Netflix. An old boyfriend?
Anyway...the Lions got jobbed. Again. In Dallas. Again. Nothing to see here.

I hope we get to meet Dallas again in playoffs. I look forward to explaining to my wife why it's so important.; 12/31/23, 2:36 PM
Humperdink said...: "She/ He/ They Persisted" authored by Chelsea Clinton, ghost written by Rich.; 12/31/23, 3:08 PM
Leland said...: Lions would just like to let you know they are all reporting as eligible receivers.; 12/31/23, 3:09 PM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: "Having female Refs is a good way to ruin the NFL..."
-rcocean

They throw flags for things the players did last week.; 12/31/23, 3:21 PM
Jaq said...: Tell me it wasn't a female ref.; 12/31/23, 3:26 PM
JAORE said...: No, the Cowboys are not, nor will they ever be, "America's Team"...

Back in the bad old days of rampant cocaine use they were known as South America's team.; 12/31/23, 3:26 PM
Jaq said...: I only explain the futboll to the shorty if she aska, and stop if (when) she tunes out. It's a game for guys, and I can see why the NFL wants female fans, but most of them that I know are only interested in various hot QBs around the league.; 12/31/23, 3:31 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'An old boyfriend?'

Nailed it : ); 12/31/23, 3:44 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: I watched the game closely. Of the two linemen who had to report eligibility the one who did reported to the umpire, the male ref in the middle. I don’t think the female ref (line judge?) had anything to do with the call on that crucial play. I mean she might have thrown a flag for one of the other two offenses that the referee conference considered before deciding to go with illegal touching. But to put any blame on the ref with the nice ponytail when it was the Lions who committed three freaking fouls is absurd. They could have easily taken the PAT and tied the game, saving their energy for OT, but the boneheaded coach just had to go for two points and the win, failing two out of three and bungling the third with three violations.

Lions might have won in overtime but we’ll never know because Dan Phillips has a thing for macho plays with low success rates. Don’t hurt me none. I’m a Cheesehead.; 12/31/23, 3:52 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Oops I meant Dan Campbell. Even if both players reported (they didn’t) there were three offenses on that one play. Three! Should’ve taken the PAT.; 12/31/23, 3:58 PM
rhhardin said...: The only football I've liked watching was either played in -20 degrees F cold in snow, or played in a raging rainstorm of mud. I'm surprised they don't make that a standard.; 12/31/23, 4:02 PM
Another old lawyer said...: My wife has been convinced that some pro football games are pre-determined after the NE Patriots came back to beat the ATL Falcons in the Super Bowl. With all the now legal money being bet on football and while I know you can't prove a negative, I don't think there's a convincing argument that can be made that NFL games are entirely clean.; 12/31/23, 4:19 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: Is this that sport everyone here claimed they would never watch again because the blacks were kneeling during the national anthem?; 12/31/23, 4:51 PM
Levi Starks said...: Funny, I thought exactly the same thing.
But she’s a girl, so we have to listen to her.; 12/31/23, 4:55 PM
Jaq said...: NE beat ATL fair and square. What a collapse.; 12/31/23, 5:13 PM
rehajm said...: It’s only illegal when Patriots do it…

Here. It’s all explained in this handy illustrated online pamphlet.; 12/31/23, 5:25 PM
Rocco said...: Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
"[Dan Campbell] should’ve taken the PAT."

Yup. The refs screwed the Lions out of a win. But Campbell lost the game by continuing to try for 2.

CeeDee Lamb tortured the Lions all game long, so maybe the Lions didn't to let the ball get into his hands in overtime. But you still gotta trust your D at some point.; 12/31/23, 5:27 PM
Meade said...: “Neither. He doesn’t monologue and I don’t cut him off. He knows I’m only interested up to a point and I’m nice about letting him know. We get each other.“

You are correct, Cute Girl.; 12/31/23, 5:30 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Engelbert: Why did the Lions send multiple players to the official? They only needed to send the one player. They were intentionally trying to mislead the Cowboys which led to the confusion. It’s their own fault for trying to game the Cowboys.; 12/31/23, 5:38 PM
Mark said...: Explain this logic of it being the Lions' fault that the refs effed up.; 12/31/23, 6:24 PM
Jim at said...: Is this that sport everyone here claimed they would never watch again because the blacks were kneeling during the national anthem?

I don't know about everybody, but I haven't watched a second of it since they started that kneeling crap in 2015. And never will.

Plenty of other things to do with my time.; 12/31/23, 6:24 PM
Humperdink said...: @Rich. Quoting legendary Steeler coach Chuck Noll: "You have many problems and they are large". (Keeping with the NFL theme.); 12/31/23, 6:32 PM
Joe Smith said...: 'Back in the bad old days of rampant cocaine use they were known as South America's team.'

I thought it was 'Gavin Newsome's team.'; 12/31/23, 8:20 PM
Joe Smith said...: "Having female Refs is a good way to ruin the NFL..."
-rcocean

They throw flags for things the players did last week.

They throw flags but don't tell you what you did wrong...; 12/31/23, 8:21 PM
Christopher B said...: Mark said...
Explain this logic of it being the Lions' fault that the refs effed up.

12/31/23, 6:

My understanding is that on every prior Lion's play involving an otherwise ineligible receiver, #70 reported as eligible. The trick in the trick play was that #68 instead of #70 would report in eligible, line up as a blocking tackle, and then shift to a receiver slot before the set. In order for the subterfuge to work both #70 and #68 would need to make the appearance of reporting in eligible and then shift. As numerous people have noted, the number of the now eligible receiver is *announced*. The Lions managed to confuse the refs about who was reporting in and then didn't catch the wrong number being announced. Likely in addition to the ineligible receiver down field they also had an illegal formation.; 12/31/23, 9:53 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: If you’re blaming refs FOR YOUR LOSS then I say you should have made better decisions so that the game didn’t hang on one (of three attempts!) play for two points. The coach chose not to take at least 4 easy points maybe more. He’s a gambler. Don’t make it so close you depend on zebras to be perfect.; 12/31/23, 10:48 PM
mtp said...: The lions had a cheapshit plan to have a lineman become eligible without the cowboys noticing. The plan revolved around sending 3 players out to report 1 unexpected player. It backfired. Good.; 1/1/24, 1:45 AM
donald said...: Maybee, doesn’t matter. You’ve got two players around the official, I do t see him acknowledging anything from either one. Again, the communication on this stuff is very often half ass and whatever details I might be missing, that’s what happened.; 1/1/24, 7:18 AM
Dude1394 said...: Sounds like a complete screw up by the lions. The eligible player was announced. They decided to ignore that. They actually sent three linemen to “not check in” I am reading and the ref picked one of them, told Dallas and announced it on the PA.

Lions outclevered themselves.; 1/1/24, 8:27 AM
Joe Smith said...: 'Don’t make it so close you depend on zebras to be perfect.'

I always told the kids I coached, 'We need to win by enough that the bad calls won't matter.'; 1/1/24, 11:08 AM