Question Regarding Rex's Challenge

[PatsFanTX]

The play where Bell came up with the loose ball.

That would have been a tough call to overturn based on the reply.

Anyway, my question is this:

If that play was over-turned and the Jets were awarded the ball, could Tomlin have then thrown the red flag as the runners knee was clearly on the ground (and should have been whistled down by contact) prior to the fumble?

[Joe W. Namath]

I dont believe so. Each play gets reviewed only once I believe. It was a good challenge. Its was desparate, but had to be done at that point.

[AbstraKt]

Don't think you can challenge a challenge (overturned or confirmed). That's why a challenge in that instance would have been able to review ALL aspects of the play. They would (and should) have confirmed the runner's knee was down prior to the (non) fumble thus negating anything that happened after play should have been dead.

[Jets Outsider]

Good question.

I don't think so. As the announcers pointed out yesterday on that play, once a play is challenged, the entire play is reviewed. That's why they were making the point that, although Re3x might not win the challenge on the fumble, the question as to whether the RB's knee was down in the backfield was also being reviewed and he had a chance that they would rule him down in the backfield.

So, in essence, the replay official decided that neither the back's knee was down nor did he lose possession before the fumble. Both of which were BS, but that was their ruling nonetheless.

So, in answer to your question, no.

[JetsCrazey]

If a play is challenged, the entire play should be reviewable. Redman should've been down by contact behind the line of scrimmage.

[PatsFanTX]

Originally Posted by Joe W. Namath

I dont believe so. Each play gets reviewed only once I believe. It was a good challenge. Its was desparate, but had to be done at that point.

OK, that's what I was looking for.

And BTW, that was a good challenge by Rex at that point in the game.

[FreshBaked 24 7]

Plays that blatantly obvious really don't need to be challenged.

The NFL needs to pay the god damn refs already

[Jets Outsider]

I think the NFL has put a mandate in place to NOT overturn the replacement referees calls unless it is blatantly obvious that it's wrong. They want to do whatever they can to make the replacements look good.

Interestingly, the replay officials are not replacement refs. I never knew this until this season, but the official in the booth is not part of the regular referee staff and no part of the referee union and are therefore not on strike. I guess they are NFL employees and seperate from the officiating crew.

[sect313]

bell had ball before rbs knee hit but rbs knee was down in the backfield, ball should of been brought back. refs were horrible yesterday. like that phanton PI call against steelers

[CleatMarks]

Because everything has to be looked at, that knee down should have been where the play was "ended". In other words, the refs got it wrong again. It should have been the Steelers ball (that much was right ) but back where his knee touched the ground (5 yards back).

[CleatMarks]

Originally Posted by JetsCrazey

If a play is challenged, the entire play should be reviewable. Redman should've been down by contact behind the line of scrimmage.

It is... the refs got it wrong...once a review is in progress, everything is taken into account.

[Jets Outsider]

Originally Posted by CleatMarks

Because everything has to be looked at, that knee down should have been where the play was "ended". In other words, the refs got it wrong again. It should have been the Steelers ball (that much was right ) but back where his knee touched the ground (5 yards back).

You are exactly right.

But, it's not only the "refs" that got it wrong, it's the NFL replay official - who is supposed to be seperate from and not biased by the refs.

When the referee sticks his head under the hood and watches the monitor, he is not reviewing the play. A seperate NFL league official - who is not part of the officiating crew - is reviewing the play. The referee is simply watching the replay and listening for the replay official's decision and explanation.

Which is why it's clear to me that the NFL has made a decision and instructed the replay officials that the replacement referee's calls will not be overturned by replay unless it is really, really obvious. Every game I've watched has had a couple of calls that would have been overturned in the past but have been let go this season. The league is obviously going out of their way to support the replacement refs.

[Boynton Beach Jets]

Originally Posted by PatsFanTX

The play where Bell came up with the loose ball.

That would have been a tough call to overturn based on the reply.

Anyway, my question is this:

If that play was over-turned and the Jets were awarded the ball, could Tomlin have then thrown the red flag as the runners knee was clearly on the ground (and should have been whistled down by contact) prior to the fumble?

When they review a play it is from the start of that whole play, the play you are questioning it did appear the runners knee was down after contact which would have brought the ball back to approx 32 yard line but that is the price to pay with replacement officials.

[SlickBri481]

The funniest part about that review is during it I texted my buddy and basically said that the idiot replacement guys would never in a million years catch his knee down earlier in the play. Obviously, they didn't. They also got the part they reviewed wrong, the Steeler RB did not have complete possession of the ball when his knees hit and the Jet defender was able to pry it away and steal it.

Those refs yesterday were real bad and it was CBS's nationally televised game. That had to raise eyebrows in the league office.

[Jets Outsider]

Originally Posted by Boynton Beach Jets

When they review a play it is from the start of that whole play, the play you are questioning it did appear the runners knee was down after contact which would have brought the ball back to approx 32 yard line but that is the price to pay with replacement officials.

BUt, the replay official is not a replacement. The replay officials are not on strike. They are the regular replay officials.

To me that makes it even worse.

[Gastineau99]

When a play is challenged, all parts of the play are supposed to be reviewed at that time. If Refs were going to rule him down, they would have done it. I'm guessing they saw the knee as inconclusive.

[Boynton Beach Jets]

Originally Posted by Jets Outsider

BUt, the replay official is not a replacement. The replay officials are not on strike. They are the regular replay officials.

To me that makes it even worse.

You are correct, but this whole issue with a replacement officials is a ticking time bomb and will sooner or later effect a key games outcome.

[SMC]

Originally Posted by PatsFanTX

OK, that's what I was looking for.

And BTW, that was a good challenge by Rex at that point in the game.

The problem was the scab refs. They were supposed to review EVERYTHING on that particular play. Simms mentioned it during the broadcast.

The proper call should've been down by contact, no fumble. Ball placed 5 yards back, still Steelers ball, Jets not charged with TO & get an extra challenge (doesn't matter why challenged, only has to be overturned).

[Jets Outsider]

Originally Posted by Boynton Beach Jets

You are correct, but this whole issue with a replacement officials is a ticking time bomb and will sooner or later effect a key games outcome.

I think it already is effecting the outcome of key games.

But, what really bothers me is that (at least in my opinion) the league is artificially manipulating the challange and replay review process to support the rulings of the replacement refs on the field - at the expense of making the correct call. Replay is supposed to be there to make the correct call!

And, I'm not specifically referring to the Rex challenge yesterday. It's been widespread.

[SMC]

Originally Posted by Jets Outsider

BUt, the replay official is not a replacement. The replay officials are not on strike. They are the regular replay officials.

To me that makes it even worse.

The replay officials are not the ones making the decision to overturn or confirm the call.

The on-the-field officials, in this situation, the scabs, make the final decision.

The replay officials are only there to notify the on-the-field officials as to whether a play should be REVIEWED. They do not tell them to overturn or confirm it.