Is that the NFL's Knife Sticking Out of the Zebra's Back?

The NFL made a public declaration yesterday that referee Pete Morelli made an error in Sunday's Steelers-Colts game when he reversed the call giving Troy Polamalu an interception, ruling that the safety did not control the ball before his own knee knocked it loose. (ESPN/AP story). It was certainly a close call on the field, and one that will have future ramifications for the definition of a "football move." Some people thought Morelli got it right; many others felt he erred. The NFL has now sided with the latter.

But should the NFL have publicly criticized its own official? As a long-time baseball umpire, I take great offense when league executives openly do not support the on-field judgment calls of game officials. Officials are human, and humans make errors (even with instant replay). This is part of any game that is played. Certainly, this officiating crew (and all officiating crews) should be critiqued, and their mistakes analyzed, by league officials, but these meetings should take place behind closed doors.

The only possible exception is when a call directly impacts the outcome of a game. The one example I can think of is the last time the NFL outed its officials -- the botched pass interference call in the Giants/49ers play-off game a few years back. But, thanks to bad play-calling and a missed field goal, the Polamalu non-interception did not change this game's outcome.

It seems to me that the NFL is using Morelli as a whipping boy for a weekend of bad officiating. The zebras were heavily criticized for a pass interference call against the Patriots, a non-call on pass interference against the Colts and a number of other miscues throughout the play-offs. NFL officials should be much better than this, especially in the play-offs. But the reprimand should come in private. By sacrificing an experienced official to protect its own image, the NFL made an error in judgment far worse than any made during this weekend's games.

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