The Dallas Cowboys have a right to be pissed. They certainly did enough on their own to lose their season opener, 20-17. The bad awareness, embarassing tackling and third-down failures on both sides of the ball were certainly the most glaring factors which contributed to their loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Still, when bad referee calls happen, things that are fundamentally outside of the player’s control, those sting a lot more than correctable mistakes that come from within. The blown offensive pass interference call made late in the game that wiped out a 47-yard completion to WR Michael Gallup on a beautifully on-the-mark throw by Dak Prescott is a prime example. Yes, Dallas’ mistakes put them in a position where a blown call could hurt them and that is on the team and Mike McCarthy. That doesn’t mean that the right call wouldn’t have put the game in the Cowboys’ hands, and the referee crew should still be held accountable.
To be clear, there was hand fighting on the play. Jalen Ramsey initiates contact by hooking Gallup’s right arm as the receiver turns for the ball. Gallup responds by getting Ramsey off of him with a nudge to Ramsey’s chest. There should have been no call. A response to physical defense is to be physical in return. Yet flags were thrown and the biggest gain of the entire game was wiped out as Ramsey lobbied for a call.
Idc if we shouldn’t have been in this position or not… that’s absolute BS to call that on Michael Gallup when Jalen Ramsey was hooking his arm the whole way down the field ON THE BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/V7i4RYeEsh
— ✭ 𝘉𝘦𝘯 ✭ (@247CowboysSZN) September 14, 2020
The highest-paid corner in the game got roasted in the biggest moment, flopped and was rewarded. Then Tony Corrente, as should be expected, covered for his fellow refs when talking to the pool reporters following the game.
“I can tell you it was clear and obvious on the field, of a hand into the opposing player. A full arm extension that created separation. In all situations that would be called. We’re not going to allow that at any time of the game,” Corrente attempted to explain. The Sunday Night Football crew, including rules analyst and former referee Terry McAuley.
When pressed that there was hand fighting by both sides, Corrente doubled down. Ft. Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill asked, “There was nothing from the defensive player, just clearly from the receiver?”
And Corrente responded, “Clearly. There were two officials from tttwo different angles that had a very good look at it, and they didn’t hesitate whatsoever, it was that clear and obvious.”
Only, it wasn’t. Clearly.
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