Arians contacts league office about “many problems” with officiating

[BullheadCardFan]

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians didn’t blame the officiating after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, but today he acknowledged that he wants answers from the league office about some key calls that hurt his team.

Arians said today that there “were obviously very many problems” with the officiating. He added that he brought about 15 calls to the attention of the officials and expects straight answers from NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino.

Link.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I wish we could get some straight answers...

15 plays.

Not sure how anyone can say that 15 plays in a game can't make a huge difference in the outcome, especially when it is decided by only 3 points...

 

[cardpa]

A holding call on safety Tyrann Mathieu that negated Patrick Peterson’s interception, a holding call on linebacker Matt Shaughnessy that gave the Eagles a key first down and a failure to call pass interference on a fourth down pass by the Cardinals were all crucial.

We can all say that the Cardinals didn't play well enough and made a lot of mistakes in the game Sunday, however I give you this.

Look at the three plays mentioned above. The defense made the play and was giving the offense a chance to at least get a FG out of the turnover. Play made and taken away by the officials.

Play two the failure to call pass interference on the fourth down play. If Floyd doesn't get hit early he probably makes the catch (yes you can make the argument that he could have dropped it however considering his level of play lately the percentage is high that he makes the catch) and the Cardinals have a first down. The Cardinals make the play and the officials take it away.

Play three, the Cardinal defense holds the Eagles on third down and the Eagles either have to elect to kick the FG or try on 4th down. All reason says the Eagles kick the FG. The Cardinals get the ball back with a chance to score the winning TD. The hold on Shaughnessy negates the play the Defense had to make and the Eagles get a fresh set of downs to run out the clock.

In each case the Cardinals made the play they had to make in order to give themselves a chance to win. In each case the officials took it away. I guess what I am trying to say is despite the fact that the Cardinals played poorly on Sunday they did do enough to at least have a chance to win and the officials took those chances away three times.

If you take away even one of those bad calls this game could have gone into overtime or an outright win. Had the Cardinals failed to make these plays then you can say regardless of the calls the Cardinals didn't make the plays they needed to in order to give themselves an opportunity to win the game.

 

[TRW]

While "ticky tack" calls, both holding calls were legit. Both guys did grab a bit of jersey and they will say that the calls were proper.

The non-call was much more egregious than Mattieu's IMO.

But, fining the crew, a letter of apology still=loss for Cardinals.

Bottom line, the Cards just needed to play better and didn't.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This game has me wondering if Foles has thrown other interceptions this season which were called back due to a late penalty on the defense...

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Bottom line, the Cards just needed to play better and didn't.

Regardless of how we played - we were still in the game and had a chance to tie/win it. We have played much worse in recent years and won games like this one. So sick of hearing how poorly we played as a reason why these calls and no-calls didn't really affect the outcome of the game. They did, IMHO. If you have played nearly 4 quarters of football and it is a 3 point game - you have played well enough to tie/win the game with one decent drive down the field. We were robbed of that chance at least twice.

 

[Hollywood]

The bottom line is there is a huge difference between shooting yourself in the foot and someone else shooting you in the foot. One involves and ambulance and an ER, the other involves cops and jail.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The bottom line is there is a huge difference between shooting yourself in the foot and someone else shooting you in the foot. One involves and ambulance and an ER, the other involves cops and jail.

Lol. Never looked at it that way.

 

[jmt]

The bottom line is there is a huge difference between shooting yourself in the foot and someone else shooting you in the foot. One involves and ambulance and an ER, the other involves cops and jail.

In this case however, the cops shot us in the foot.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

In this case however, the cops shot us in the foot.

 

[NoelPHX]

We shot ourselves in the left and they shot us in the right.

 

[seesred]

I agree with Brian from Mesa. Regardless of how we got there at the end of this game we were ROBBED of a chance to win. There are plenty of the Zebras on the field to get these right. I don't have an answer but this game changed our season!

GBR
40

 

[TRW]

Regardless of how we played - we were still in the game and had a chance to tie/win it. We have played much worse in recent years and won games like this one. So sick of hearing how poorly we played as a reason why these calls and no-calls didn't really affect the outcome of the game. They did, IMHO. If you have played nearly 4 quarters of football and it is a 3 point game - you have played well enough to tie/win the game with one decent drive down the field. We were robbed of that chance at least twice.

My point, that I probably didn't state very well, was that the league will justify the calls, maybe send a letter of apology for the non-calls and that will be it.

I agree with you completely that the calls DID affect, possibly, the outcome of the game. That is a total shame for sure. But the Cards shouldn't have put themselves in that position by their poor play.

 

[MadCardDisease]

People are not talking about this call but I thought that the PI call on Powers at the end of the half was complete BS. I thought it should had been and Offensive PI call on Cooper. Cooper was using his right arm to hold back Powers and had his right arm hooked around Powers. That penalty resulted in 28 yards and putting the ball on the 1 yard line.

Couldn't find a video of it but in this photo you can see Cooper's right arm still wrapped around Powers as Powers tries to make a play on the ball:

You must be registered for see images

 

[Zeno]

People are not talking about this call but I thought that the PI call on Powers at the end of the half was complete BS. I thought it should had been and Offensive PI call on Cooper. Cooper was using his right arm to hold back Powers and had his right arm hooked around Powers. That penalty resulted in 28 yards and putting the ball on the 1 yard line.

Couldn't find a video of it but in this photo you can see Cooper's right arm still wrapped around Powers as Powers tries to make a play on the ball:

You must be registered for see images

Powers didn't look back at the ball, had his hand on the WRs shoulder and then ran through him...to me that was one call that wasn't incorrect.

 

[jf-08]

Couldn't find a video of it but in this photo you can see Cooper's right arm still wrapped around Powers as Powers tries to make a play on the ball:

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I agree with this. I almost threw my remote at the TV when I saw Cooper grab Powers. What a BS call!

 

[Jay Cardinal]

People are not talking about this call but I thought that the PI call on Powers at the end of the half was complete BS. I thought it should had been and Offensive PI call on Cooper. Cooper was using his right arm to hold back Powers and had his right arm hooked around Powers. That penalty resulted in 28 yards and putting the ball on the 1 yard line.

Couldn't find a video of it but in this photo you can see Cooper's right arm still wrapped around Powers as Powers tries to make a play on the ball:

You must be registered for see images

I hated that call. The ball landed 5+ yards downfield. It absolutely was not a catchable ball. If you want to call holding and go 5 yards I understand, but they gave the Eagles the ball on the 1, directly leading to a TD before the half.

I am not sure what sending in controversial plays hopes to achieve. Perhaps it makes the fan base feel all warm and fuzzy, but it sure looks to be whining from afar. I did not think Arians was the type of coach to do this and publicize it.

 

[Totally_Red]

I hated that call. The ball landed 5+ yards downfield. It absolutely was not a catchable ball. If you want to call holding and go 5 yards I understand, but they gave the Eagles the ball on the 1, directly leading to a TD before the half.

I am not sure what sending in controversial plays hopes to achieve. Perhaps it makes the fan base feel all warm and fuzzy, but it sure looks to be whining from afar. I did not think Arians was the type of coach to do this and publicize it.

It's my understanding that all teams do this and have for several years. It's the approved method of responding to bad or incorrect calls.

Just like teams review game tape to tell how their players performed and provide feedback and constructive criticism, the officiating review process should do the same. Hopefully the next game officiated by this crew won't have the same egregious issues.

Also, it helps determine who officiates in the post-season.

 

[Hollywood]

People are not talking about this call but I thought that the PI call on Powers at the end of the half was complete BS. I thought it should had been and Offensive PI call on Cooper. Cooper was using his right arm to hold back Powers and had his right arm hooked around Powers. That penalty resulted in 28 yards and putting the ball on the 1 yard line.

Couldn't find a video of it but in this photo you can see Cooper's right arm still wrapped around Powers as Powers tries to make a play on the ball:

You must be registered for see images

Powers didn't look back at the ball, had his hand on the WRs shoulder and then ran through him...to me that was one call that wasn't incorrect.

I mentioned this in another thread but didn't have any video/picture so I let it go. And yes, he was absolutely looking at the ball. When the flag came out I jumped up happy because I was SURE it was offensive PI. Putting the ball on the 1 was like giving the eagles a TD.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I hated that call. The ball landed 5+ yards downfield. It absolutely was not a catchable ball. If you want to call holding and go 5 yards I understand, but they gave the Eagles the ball on the 1, directly leading to a TD before the half.

I am not sure what sending in controversial plays hopes to achieve. Perhaps it makes the fan base feel all warm and fuzzy, but it sure looks to be whining from afar. I did not think Arians was the type of coach to do this and publicize it.

1. Every coach does it after every game.

2. Arians has said multiple times that the Cardinals did not lose because of the refs.

3. I would guarantee Arians has been asked about it by the media more than few times between now and then.

Whining ? Maybe. But it is not this kind of crap at least.

You must be registered for see images

 

[Hollywood]

I wouldn't call it whining. I like the way he came out in the post game press conference and said the refs didn't cost us the game.

Blaming the refs is for the media and fans. Players and coaches don't get that luxury. Saying that he sent the tape into the league is just answering questions in an interview....and the only place I heard him say it was on Bickley and Morotta's show after they asked him what the protocol was for blown calls. Everyone else seems to be quoting from that interview (but I could be wrong)

That being said, the refs completely cost us the chance to win that game. The Cardinals were screwed over once again.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I mentioned this in another thread but didn't have any video/picture so I let it go. And yes, he was absolutely looking at the ball. When the flag came out I jumped up happy because I was SURE it was offensive PI. Putting the ball on the 1 was like giving the eagles a TD.

And it was the same ref that didn't make the call on the Floyd mugging.

 

[crisper57]

Cary Williams calling Arians a crybaby.

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2013/12/cary_williams_to_bruce_arians.html

"Let’s not be crybabies. ” Williams said to Tim McManus of Eagles 24/7. “I thought the refs kept them in the game to some degree at times. But it’s football. It’s about going out there and executing."

What a D-Bag.

 

[Covert Rain]

I have no problem with him calling out the officials for blown calls. There is no problem about him calling them out. However, don't blame the loss on that. The Cards had plenty of opportunities they never capitalized on during that game.

 

[NJCardFan]

Powers didn't look back at the ball, had his hand on the WRs shoulder and then ran through him...to me that was one call that wasn't incorrect.

However, same play in the Pittsburgh/Baltimore game on Thanksgiving during Pitt's 2 point conversion try and it wasn't called. That's the argument. Consistency. Hell, that abysmal call in the Carolina/NE game shows you how inconsistent the officiating has been this season.