Here’s what referee Brad Allen said about the penalty on the Lions 2-point conversion
NFL referee Brad Allen talked with a pool reporter after the Detroit Lions’ contentious Saturday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Lions went for two after moving the ball down the field, and Jared Goff found offensive lineman Taylor Decker with a pass to
convert the play into a two-point score. But Decker didn’t report as eligible, so the referee threw a flag for improper touching.
“There was a circumstance where you had to notify the referee if an ineligible person was going to take an eligible position.
On this particular play, number 70, who had reported during the game a couple of times, reported to me as eligible. Then, he lined up at the tackle position. So, actually, he didn’t have to report at all. Number 68, who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul. So, the issue is, number 70 did report, number 68 did not,” Allen said.
Allen was also asked about the conversation.
“That conversation is where number 70 reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team, and I say to them, ‘Number 70 has reported as an eligible receiver,’ so they will be aware of who has reported and then I return to my position. That was the conversation with the defensive line,” he said.
In the locker room after the game, Decker spoke to the media.
“I really just want to clarify that I followed my coach’s instructions completely so as not to cause any trouble for myself. He went to the referee and replied, “Yeah, I don’t know. Report,”
Dan Campbell, the head coach, also spoke and said that the 70 reports were explained. He added, clearly frustrated, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
The call also sent Lions supporters back to the Cowboys’ 2015 playoff game, when the Cowboys were called for pass interference.
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