11-14-2019, 06:08 AM
NEW YORK, N. Joe Girardi Jersey .Y. - The union representing NFL on-field officials criticized the league Thursday for inconsistencies in grading calls, including two high-profile penalties from recent games.In a release, the NFL Referees Association says the NFL has caused confusion for NFL officials as to what the league does and doesnt want called.The union referred to penalties on Washingtons Chris Baker for a hit on Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sept. 21, and to Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah last Monday night for going to his knees to celebrate an interception return for a touchdown. Abdullah actually had gone to his knees to pray a€” an act exempted from celebration penalties.The union says both calls were graded as correct even after NFL executives announced that they were incorrect. Baker got a 15-yard penalty and was ejected from the game at Philadelphia. Abdullah also received a 15-yard penalty.Consistency in penalty enforcement is extremely important to the players, coaches and fans. Uncertainty as to what the league wants called is not a road you want to go down, said Jim Quirk, executive director of the NFLRA.Quirk noted that Baker was penalized for a blindside block on Foles as a personal foul; a brawl followed near the Washington sideline and Eagles tackle Jason Peters was also ejected.Two days later, Troy Vincent, the NFLs executive vice-president of football operations, said the hit was legal and should not have been penalized. Yet, the NFLRA said, the leagues officiating department a day later graded the call as correct.In the case of the block on Nick Foles, by rule, it was not a foul because the quarterback was pursuing the play, the contact was not to the head or neck area, and the play was not over, NFL spokesman Michael Signora said in an email to The Associated Press. However, the referee a€” watching the play at full speed and without the benefit of a replay review a€” judged that the block was late and threw a flag. While not a correct call, we understand why it was made.In the case of Abdullah, a devout Muslim who took off a year from football to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the league said Tuesday that the penalty was in error.The leagues rule book prohibits players from celebrating while on the ground, but spokesman Michael Signora wrote in an email Tuesday that the officiating mechanic in this situation is not to flag a player who goes to the ground as part of religious expression, and as a result, there should have been no penalty on the play.But, according to the union, officials who made the call were given correct grades by the officiating department on Thursday. That could be because Abdullah could have been penalized for sliding on his knees before actually praying.But the league reiterated Thursday what it announced earlier this week, that the call was incorrect and not graded otherwise.As part of evaluating the performance of our game officials, the officiating supervisors recognize that for an incorrect call on a close judgment play, the official may have used appropriate reasoning, Signora said. On such a call, the official is not downgraded.Regardless, said former NFLRA President Scott Green, a recently retired referee, theres a communications problem between the NFL and its game officials.It seems there is a disconnect between what the officiating department expects from officials and the public statements being made by league executives, Green said. It certainly creates uncertainty for the guys making split-second decisions on the field.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Elston Howard Yankees Jersey .Y. -- The Detroit Red Wings had just enough time to salvage a point. Thairo Estrada Yankees Jersey . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup. https://www.cheapyankees.com/941g-bernie...nkees.html . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St.Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - James Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas each scored eight of their 15 points during the pivotal third quarter, and Toronto snapped its four-game skid by pulling away for a 109-96 victory over the Boston Celtics at Air Canada Centre. Kyle Lowry and Lou Williams had 19 points apiece, and Johnson pulled down 10 rebounds. Amir Johnson scored 15, and Patrick Patterson totaled 10 points and nine boards for the Atlantic Division leaders, who beat the Celtics for the fourth straight time. I thought our defensive mojo was back, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. We were doing the things we needed to do with activity and anticipation. Kelly Olynyk, a Toronto native, had 23 points for Boston, which has dropped nine of its last 11 games. Canada basketball is huge up here, Olynyk said. Its always nice to come up here and play well in front of your country. James Johnson and Valanciunas combined to shoot 8-of-9 from the floor in the third quarter, when the Raptors turned a 2-point deficit early in the period into an 82-65 cushion going into the fourth. Amir Johnsons layup to start the quarter expanded Torontos lead to 49-43, but Boston surged in front and gained a 55-53 edge on Jared Sullingers jumper with 8:47 left. The Raptors responded with a 15-2 run with Valanciunas scoring six of those points. Pattersons short jumper at the horn to end the period extended Torontos lead to 17, and the hosts lead never dipped under eight points in the fourth. Don Larsen Yankees Jersey. Lowry scored 10 in the final stanza. Avery Bradley had seven points in the first quarter to help the Celtics grab a 26-19 lead by the end of the period. The visitors used a 13-2 run during the quarter, which was capped by Bradleys layup for a 17-9 edge. Brandon Bass dunk extended Bostons lead to 40-31 with 5:35 remaining in the half, but the Raptors scored the ensuing 12 points. Greivis Vasquez started the burst with a 3-pointer and James Johnson finished it by sinking 1-of-2 free throws with 1:28 left. Williams slam with 17.7 seconds left brought the Raptors lead to 47-43 at the break. Game Notes The Raptors are 6-0 against the Atlantic Division this season ... Toronto hasnt lost five in a row since Nov. 26 - Dec. 6, 2013 ... Raptors forward Terrence Ross went 2-of-4 from 3-point range, part of Torontos 13-of-30 effort. He has made at least one 3-pointer in a career-best 13 consecutive games ... The Raptors still have the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans left on this six-game homestand ... Bradley had 17 points ... Celtics forward Jeff Green didnt play amid rumors that he was being traded to Memphis. ' ' '