Replacement Officials - Dallas vs NYG
 

I didn't see too many horrific errors, although I agree they likely missed the holding of Victor Cruz in the end zone - but I've seen that missed by NFL officials as well.

My main beefs in game one of this debacle were mechanical. Umpire moved more than I'm used to seeing on plays where he began behind the LOS. Sticks were slow a few times. The major gaffe wasn't noticed by the peanut gallery. they blew a play dead just before it started for IP on the Cowboy Defense. A) you don't kill this play in the NFL, B) the defense doesn't have the huddle requirement that the offense does (so this wasn't a breaking the huddle with 12 issue), C) the player got off the field before the whistle was even blown, so why did they blow the whistle at all? Both coaches were irritated, but moved on. Flag was waived off, but to an official - this looked very bad to me.

Only other thing I didn't like was that other than the first 5 minutes it was a rather flag-free game ... until the 4th quarter when suddenly every play had a flag - things obviously got tighter for no apparent reason. The hold in the 4thQ on Witten was bad.

I agree, that was missed but like you've said, I've seen the NFL regulars miss that type of play on occasion. It's hard to catch in that area.

I don't know, I think that was there. He took the defender's feet away from him with the grab across the pads.

The other one I wanted another look at was the clip they called in the first quarter against the Giants. The TV folks hilighted a "BIB" (that wasn't) and said that was it but I'm wondering if they showed the wrong thing.

The R struck me as uncomfortable (understandable) but I wish he would have quit shouting into his microphone.

The BIB on Cruz was ticky-tack. The hold on Whitten was there and it was near the point of attack. The IS had me sctratching my head because the camera angle at the time didn't show anyone coming off or on.

All in all it wasn't the disaster that the media or the NFLRA probably hoped it to be.

I only saw the fourth quarter. Other than the 12 on the field thing (which was really no big deal, they got it right in the end), all the other fouls were there and were properly called. Dallas just started playing stupid in the 4th quarter. I was especially impressed with the back judge on the DPI/touchdown. He correctly called DPI and kept officiating and got the two feet down, which wasn't a trivial call to make.

This is not the game the NFLRA wants to highlight as the reason they're "needed" back in the game.

I don't particularly remember the picked up flag against Dallas for too many men on the field. The NFL did changed the rule this year though where basically, if the defense has 12 in formation and the snap is imminent, then the officials are to blow it dead and get the defense for too many men. If it's 12 on the field but the extra is getting off the field, the field, the officials will penalize this as a live ball foul (if applicable).

Besides the missed holding call of Victor, I noticed a few missed spots with the officials treating a head first dive as a feet first slide. They were also a clipping call that wasn't a clip but a clear block in the back. I'd also have to wonder how both teams played a relatively clean game for the first 3.5 quarters but suddenly started fouling every other snap in the last six minutes of the 4th.

All and all, not a bad job though. I think the real test will come though when games are played on Sunday.

Wait for Sunday. This was the best of the replacements, hand picked for this game.

The crews for the weekend will be no doubt be assigned by matching their quality to expected ratings for the game (though there's no hiding from Sports Center).

Precisely. The problem (for me) is that they blew it dead AFTER the player ran off. Not the NFL mentality.

But I agree with most - not a disaster, and the true test is Sunday.

This I don't agree with. What was shown on replay was a sideblock, not a BIB.

Hand Picked ?????
 

Can you expound on that ??? Don't wanna know your source but if that is true, i am kinda surprised ????

Also this is my 200 post...trying to catch Rut !!!!

As a Cowboy fan, I didn't like all the flags the last few minutes, but almost all were self-inflicted. I wouldn't have called the hold on Witten, but I think many regular NFL officials would have.

All in all, not a bad night of work.

I'd have to go back and look...my point was the block was nowhere near below the waist.

I just took another look at the A22 clip from the punt play that was flagged for clipping on NYG and there was nobody even trying to go low anywhere on the field.
What the deep wing flagged was the IBB and you can argue that it was a side block. And I'm a Cowboys fan...

Also didn't care for the screaming on the mic but since I've never officiated a game with a mic or with a lowd crowd, I don't know how was he listening to himself down on the field.