by Greg Enslen, 09/26/12
Week Three in the National Football League was overshadowed by game-altering officiating and a tragic death. Here are the latest scoops and scuttlebutt, along with some Bengals/Browns news and a Fantasy Football update.
Officially…Screwing Up
The replacement officials struggled to control the weekend match ups, and it was especially evident in the Sunday night prime-time game between the Patriots and the Ravens. Everyone watching was treated to an exercise in frustration and futility. The replacement officials reminded us that, yes, they are not “actual” officials, haphazardly applying the rules, being overly-likely to impose penalties one one hand and, in some cases, missing blatant offenses that should draw a penalty from even the most blind observer.
Things came to a head near the end of the game, when the Patriots were trying to hold off a last-minute drive by Baltimore to take the lead. Ravens coach John Harbaugh attempted to call a timeout, but the officials ignored him, so he ran out on the field to get their attention and received a 25-yard unsportsmanlike conduct.
With 2 seconds left, rookie Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker (K, BAL) shook off the pressure and kicked the winning field goal. Or did he? The ball soared above the uprights, instead of through, leaving it to the referees to judge whether or not the kick counted…
