The Detroit Lions’ game against the Dallas Cowboys ended in controversy after a successful go-ahead two-point conversion was negated by an unlawful touching penalty. The referees made what many saw to be a blatant and heinous mistake in penalizing offensive lineman Taylor Decker, who had seemed to report as eligible before to the play.
After the game, though, ESPN officiating analyst John Parry took a different stand in an interview with Scott Van Pelt. Parry asserted loudly, “Absolutely,” shifting the burden to the player. The player bears responsibility for it.” Decker purposely approached referee Brad Allen to indicate that he was qualified, but Parry called it a misunderstanding.
“You want to make sure that the referee definitely knows what position you’re playing,” Parry said, highlighting the play’s originality.
He maintained that Decker “owns a little bit of this” for failing to realize that the referee was not concentrating on him and said that Decker ought to have been “much stronger” in attracting Allen’s attention.
“We would want the player to get to him much stronger than he does in this case,” Parry stated. “Brad is focusing on number 70 instead of number 68. In a little way, [Decker] is also responsible for this since he noticed that Brad Allen was not staring at him. I must ensure that Brad is aware.”
“I understand, but you shouldn’t be performing jumping jacks and flapping around announcing to others that you’re qualified, since that will call attention to the fact. You understand what I’m saying? Van Pelt stated. “I can certainly identify with the anger on the Detroit side.”
Be the first to comment