BTW, I've seen the white hat on these replacement crews use the stop clock mechanic on touchbacks more than once this season.

When I saw the BJ use the stop clock mechanic last night, it communicated change of possession to me.

And, that is the issue I have with the way the play was managed by the two covering officials.

They clearly looked at each other before either gave a signal. I wish a reverse camera angle were available for us to see if they said anything to each other in that brief moment. Anything at all would have been good..."I have a touchdown, what do you have?" Instead, they gave two different signals which only invites confusion and opens the crew up to even more criticism.

I've seen guys stop the clock before a TB signal. Can't recall if it's NFL or NCAA.

I believe he said, "I have a touchdown, you call it dead," and the other guy said, "Ok."

Without getting into a long argument on that...I totally disagree. OK, one point to make...not saying the call was correct, but since when do officials make a call based on what is going to cause less "water cooler" discussions?

How irresponsible of him to try and enjoy his retirement ;)

I have seen the "stop the clock" signal used before the TB signal on TBs before...I must admit, I'm not sure how the regular officials do it, or what the correct NFL mechanic is, but I have seen it. I have never seen 'time out' before someone the signaled TD. With the two officials giving different signals, it is pretty obvious they had different calls (either that or the deep wing had a TD and the BJ wanted to talk about the call before making it). It looks really really bad to have the two signals, but it does not make the call wrong. I just means they need to at least get on the same page before someone goes up with a signal. As we used to say on our crew, touchdowns are forever.

I don't think that was the point, I think that if they both went up with the same call, it would have been less of a talking point...I don't really agree, I think that even if the regulars called this it would be a huge discussion point today.

Jerry Markbreit is on WSCR Chicago right now; calls it an "obvious interception." No real deep analysis of the play, though. :-)

Agreed, I thought that he was anticipating a huddle.

No NFL official is signaling time-out before he signals a touchdown. It's time-out and touchback or touchdown.

Besides the clear and obvious OPI, IMO, that's an interception and touchback...the DB gains control of the ball first and subsequently the WR.

On the OPI, I agree.

On the catch, I'm just not so sure. It looks like Tate has his hand in there from the moment the ball arrives. As crowder noted, there's no distinction with SP on who has better possession.

I'm not positive either way on this, but if the flag is down, it doesn't matter.

Is OPI loss of down in the NFL?

Fair enough. If that is true, then it answers my question. Nonetheless, two different signals still "looks" bad and invites *unecessary* criticism of the crew, imo.

Yes, they will still get criticized for the call, however, if both officials signal TD, there is less confusion and just looks better. Shows the crew is effectively communicating in pressure situations. That (at some level) counts for something in my book. Maybe it doesn't matter to anyone else. And that's ok, I guess.

If GB bats the ball down to the ground or OOB instead of trying to catch the ball, more than likely same would be true.... Nobody would be talking about this right now.