Upon further review, spot call overruled

POSTED: November 12, 2009

By LES BOWEN

bowenl@phillynews.com

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Lingerie Football League

Eagles vs. Bears

Phila. Marathon 2009

Hey, guess what? Last night, the NFL sent out a link to vice president of officiating Mike Pereira's weekly discussion of controversial calls in last weekend's games. Any idea what the hot topic is this time? Why, Donovan McNabb's fourth-down sneak against the Cowboys that wasn't ruled a first down, despite a video-review challenge, even though it sure looked like one.

You'll really never guess Pereira's take on what should have happened.

"It's a tough play," Pereira concedes. "I think I'd have moved it."

Before you rend the hem of your garment in frustration, Pereira qualifies that.

"I don't know if it becomes a first down," he says.

But like many Eagles fans, Pereira thinks the Eagles' logo on the field offers enough of a marker to ascertain where McNabb's elbow landed when he slid off the pile. Placing the ball there, Pereira concludes, "ought to move it up a few inches," at least. Somehow, McNabb came up nearly a foot short, the tip of the ball farther from the marker than it had been after LeSean McCoy's third-down attempt, which also might have been a first down, but was not reviewed.

As many people have mentioned, Pereira notes that establishing markers or landmarks for changing spots on video review is really hard.

Here's the link. Feel free to send it to those special Cowboys fans in your life.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/

nfl-network-total-access/

09000d5d814206ab/Official-Review-Week-9-bonus-coverage.

Upon further review, spot call overruled
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Upon further review, spot call overruled

Comments

Posted 05:42 AM, 11/12/2009

denyll

...and the rest is history:(

Posted 06:22 AM, 11/12/2009

RoastedBird

The refs sucked in Sunday night..

Posted 06:34 AM, 11/12/2009

Fingers

the ref looked like Jerry Jones brother

Posted 07:31 AM, 11/12/2009

Seed

Let's move on to the next game where a single call does not decide your fate... on well single pass to Miles Austin was the difference in the game. What can you say more... but we need to move on to the next game and play a better game and win.

Posted 07:58 AM, 11/12/2009

InternetToughGuy

Doesnt matter - if they had gotten the first down, it would have been followed by three incomplete passes, and a field goal attempt (down 7)

Comment removed.

Posted 08:13 AM, 11/12/2009

annec

Don't they always rule in favor of the Cowboys?? The refs, one more thing Jerry Jones has in his DEEP Pockets. Steinbrenner, Jerry Jones and The Late Red Auerbach should be banned from professional sports for life as they've caused nothing but corruption in profession sports. Where's the justice, guys using steroids get banned for 4 games, or win Cy Young awards and a guy like Pete Rose gets banned for life from baseball for betting on games. Like, Michael Jordan and his late father didn't bet on Basketball?? Please, the entire professional sports arena stinks of corruption and abuse.

Posted 08:28 AM, 11/12/2009

peterlobl

pity poor eagles, eagle "fans", philadelphia etc etc etc waaAAAH

Posted 08:50 AM, 11/12/2009

somertonspartan

Peter is busy typing away @ the keyboard in his mommy's basement in Mayfair. Pete, get out of the basement and go walk around the Roosevelt mall.

Posted 09:05 AM, 11/12/2009

daiggles

stop blaming the refs, reid and mcnubb blew this game

Posted 09:07 AM, 11/12/2009

Scobie1

Jerry Jones is on the officiating rules commitee, enough said. This still doesn't change the outcome of the game. Eagles should have won but didn't so we have to move on. Beat them in Dallas and it all comes out even.

Posted 09:16 AM, 11/12/2009

brian2706

Why can't they just come out and say the obvious...the ref completely blew the call and was afraid to make themselves look bad by changing the spot. What a joke.

Posted 09:18 AM, 11/12/2009

edseagles

made no difference.they had 2nd down and short, third down and short, should of never gotten to 4th down. it is what it is, poor play calling, poor execution.