Dean Blandino, NFL ref czar stumbles off Cowboys party bus

Jason LaCanfora, CBS Sports:

Executives from several NFL clubs expressed extreme disappointment and anger at a TMZ video that appears to show the league's head of officiating, Dean Blandino, out for a night of partying in Los Angeles with Cowboys EVP and son of owner Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones.

Blandino appears to be among a group of males and females captured stepping off the Jones' Cowboys-themed party bus and toward a club where paparazzi awaited outside. The Cowboys hold training camp in temperate Oxnard, Calif., and it is not unusual for team officials to take the bus to LA for dinner, etc.

Several teams have expressed concern given the sensitive nature of Blandino's role and his authority on matters of officiating and interpretation.

The issue is competitive advantage. In the December 11, 2012 game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, Jets strength and conditioning coach, Sal Alosi tripped Dolphins Nolan Carroll as he ran down the Jets sideline during punt coverage. The officials did not see the trip, and no penalty was assessed on the play. Alosi was suspended by the NFL for the remaining four games of the season.

Just the mere appearance of impropriety is cause for concern. Major League Baseball has experience in this matter. In the 1996 playoff game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore, right field umpire, Richie Garcia ruled that Derek Jeter’s fly ball to right was a homerun. The ball was taken out of the waiting glove of rightfielder, Tony Tarasco by a 12 year old fan named Jeffrey Maier. Garcia ruled no fan interference. The Yankees won in extra innings.

To further complicate matters, Umpire Richie Garcia was involved in the 1999 playoff game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. This was the “phantom” tag of base runner, Jose Offerman by Yankees second baseman, Chuck Knoblach. At the postgame press conference when Garcia referred to Chuck Knoblach as “Knobby”, competitive advantage was now open for debate. Garcia’s career was finished. Instant replay was on the way.

In a league where "The Shield" and fairness and equity are supposed to trump all, in a sport where a fraction of an inch here or there, an interpretation of a rule, or a video replay decision could be the difference between the playoffs and a top 10 draft pick, the $10 billion industry that is the NFL cannot be compromised in any fashion.

An NFL official, via La Confora: "If I were another team owner, how could I not be irate? You're damn right I'd be irate."

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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