NFL talk – Mike Tomlin, the officiating and insane laterals

It has been a crazy week in the National Football League. For this writer it began with a rant from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. He complained that he was saddened by the impact of gambling and fantasy football on the game. As a member of a fantasyfootball league, I felt like he was talking to me.His tirade stemmed from a recent game in which Steelers defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a pass late against Atlanta. Fitzpatrick could have returned the ball for a touchdown, but instead chose to run out of bounds. He knew that the offense would only have to take a knee a couple of times and Pittsburgh would win by three points.Was this a smart football move? You bet. The Steelers won. Would they have won had he scored? Probably, but Browns fans remember a similar situation against the Jets earlier this year. That game did not turn out as expected.Tomlin pointed out that Fitzpatrick had taken abuse for his play as fans cited the loss of fantasy points or not covering the spread as reasons for being unhappy. I get that. I probably would not have been happy if it was my defense, but then I wouldn't go on social media to vent about it either.I understand Tomlin's frustration, but I wouldn't worry about those "fans". As long as the players understand what needs to be done to insure a win, the howlers can just keep on baying at the moon. Now if the players or officials have a stake in the final score or belong to a fantasy league of their own…I guess that is my way of bringing up the state of officiating in the NFL. First let me point out, as I have done many times over the years, that I have a lot of respect for anyone that officiates a sporting event. It is an almost impossible job, one that will not likely come with frequent compliments for a well-called game. At best you will be ignored after a game in which no one thinks you blew a call.An official has to make calls in real time. The fans sitting in the stands may not agree with each other on a decision made immediately by an official. But the biggest problem for officials today is television. With TV showing slow motion replays, the correct call often becomes more clear. And pity the official who gets it wrong.So is there a problem with officiating in the NFL these days? Many people think so. Let me give you one example from last weekend that affected my fantasy league. In the incredible comeback win by the Minnesota Vikings over the Indianapolis Colts, the Vikings defense scored what appeared to be a huge touchdown after recovering a fumble.The officials ruled the runner was down by contact when replays showed the fumble occurred long before the runner was anywhere near the ground. It does make you wonder which official stopped the play and why he thought he should. Since I didn't have the Vikings D, I was not upset though I did feel bad for my fellow league member. Maybe Mike Tomlin is on to something with this fantasy football rant…The biggest officiating gaffe of the week came late in the Washington Commanders and New York Giants game. With the Commanders trailing by eight, they appeared to score a TD that would (with a two point conversion) tie the game with just seconds left. But a penalty was called on wideout Terry McLaurin for not being on the line of scrimmage.The replay shows him asking the official if he is on the line – a sight that is seen throughout every game – but whether the official gives him an answer is hard to tell. He then throws the flag and the touchdown is nullified. Fans are enraged, but wait, it will get worse.Two plays later, a pass in the end zone is broken up. Replays show the defender is draped all over the receiver and was for a while, but no call is made. My first thought is the "swallow your whistle" theory. This is the idea that an official wants the players to decide for themselves the outcome of the game and will not make any call unless absolutely necessary. As I have said numerous times, not making a call is affecting the outcome of the game just as much as making a bad call.Officials are human and will make mistakes. Will something be done to try to minimize those mistakes this offseason? I'm guessing there will be some changes. How to eliminate all of them is the million dollar question. That may not have an answer.By now all of you have seen the last play of the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders game. The scene. Three seconds to go. New England is in their own territory though close to midfield. The score is tied.Options. A Hail Mary pass. Take a knee and head to overtime. Call for a run off tackle that will accomplish nothing… unless the guy goes 60 yards or something else incredibly stupid happens.The Pats went with option three. Rhamondre Stevenson gets the ball and actually gains some thirty yards, but as he is about to be tackled he decides to lateral the ball to Jakobi Meyers. I'm sure he was surprised to suddenly have the ball, but what he does next almost defies belief.He tries to throw the ball backwards and to a point near midfield to his quarterback Mac Jones. Exactly what he expects him to do with it from there is open to conjecture, but we will never know. The ball is caught by the Raiders Chandler Jones and he proceeds to stuff Mac Jones into the turf and runs for a game ending touchdown!Everyone in the stadium and those of us watching on TV are left to wonder what just happened. It has been called the stupidest play in NFL history and it is hard to argue with that assessment. Certainly the concept of an ill-advised lateral will never happen again, will it? Well, will it?Fast forward to Monday night. The Packers have a 12 point lead over the Rams in the fourth quarter. A Green Bay interception takes place and the defender takes the ball to the Rams 20 yard line. He then decides to try to lateral to a teammate, but the ball heads some twenty yards the wrong direction. Luckily the Packers recover, but it could have been a huge bonehead play. I have one question for the Packer "lateraler".Did you not see the Pats/Raiders game?????