replay gets it wrong

[Ed Hickland]

Today's Wall Street Journal (February 1, 2002) has an excellent story entitled, "The Official Word: Why NFL Refs Are Mouthing Off About Their Calls."

There is a section talking about self-conscious Walt Coleman and his reluctance to explain the "tuck" rule following the replay decision in the Oakland-New England game.

The article states, "Fearing that a full explanation would confuse viewers, Mr. Coleman gave only a terse explanation for the reversal. He said Mr. Brady's throwing arm was still moving forward when he dropped the ball, but this was contradicted by the replay viewers could see for themselves.

The referee says he actually based his decision on the little-known "tuck" rule. Although the quarterback had completed his throwing motion, he had not yet tucked the ball into his chest, and therefore was still considered to be passing.

Mr. Pereira, the league's head referee, was watching the game on television and called CBS commentators to inform them about the tuck rule himself. Mr. Coleman says he didn't want to get into all that, since "nobody understands the tuck rule anyway." But he acknowledges that other referees, such as Mr. Hochuli, "would have said more."

Good article if you get a chance to read it.