No More Extra Timeouts: NFL and Refs Reach Agreement in time For Cards-Dolphins
By Scott Allen
Sept. 23, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; NFL referee Mike Shepherd (left) and field judge Henry Zaborniak during the first half of the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
It’s about time. The NFL and the regular referees have finally reached an agreement. The agreement made on Wednesday night is in time for Thursday night’s game featuring the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. This also means they will be in place for the Arizona Cardinals–Miami Dolphins game on Sunday afternoon.
So, can we finally put the Monday night debacle in the past? I realize what the Seattle Seahawks got on Monday night. They got the gift of a win that could end up hurting the Cards. I get that. It is maddening. The horrendous call even made mainstream news. It’s bad when that happens. The Cards had a couple of calls go against them and a couple in their favor along the way. The bad calls evened out, although one could argue affecting the outcome of a game is extreme and could be argued could never even things out.
We’ll never forget the extra timeout the replacements gave the Hawks in week one, but no more. We are all back even to three timeouts per half. Period. I hope the NFL has learned a lesson here. Probably not but it is what it is. The regular refs are back. Let’s all rejoice!