The NFL and referee Brad Allen took enough of Saturday's controversial call to nullify the go-ahead two-point conversion that Allen defended in a video the league sent to all 32 teams. According to a new report from The Athletic.
It was the first detailed account of the NFL's offer for the play that has excited the Lions since their 20-19 loss to the Cowboys.
The controversy stemmed from whether the Lions' Taylor Decker left a tackle officially reported as eligible to receive a pass on a two-point conversation attempt with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Decker attempted to score by catching a pass in the end zone, but officials waved him away, leading to accusations that the play was an illegal touch.
The nearly two-minute long video sent by the league was narrated by Walt Anderson, senior vice president of training and development, according to reports.
“It is the player's responsibility to ensure that the change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by a physical signal of raising and lowering his hands in front of his chest, and to inform the referee of his intention to report as an eligible player. 'It's about being a receiver,' Anderson said in the video. According to The Athletic.
Decker told reporters after the loss to Detroit that he verbally reported to officials, but NFL video also showed Decker physically reporting.
“It's very confusing,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff told reporters on the postgame phone call. “What I know is, I don't know if I'm going to get fined for this, but I know Decker reported it. I know Dan Skipper didn't. I know Dan Skipper said he did.”
According to The Athletic, Allen reported that tackle Dan Skipper, not Decker, was eligible, and Anderson echoed that sentiment in a video distributed by the league.
And because Skipper lined up next to right tackle as an eligible player, the Lions committed an illegal formation foul on that play as well.
“This process has been in place for many years and is intended to properly notify the defense when a player lines up in a position that is not allowed by his number,” Anderson said in the video.
That explanation likely won't please many football fans, nor will the news that Allen and his staff will be on the team for Saturday's nationally televised game between the Steelers and Ravens.
This game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN and has major playoff implications for Pittsburgh.
ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that Allen and his staff will likely be demoted and not receive any playoff assignments.
The Cowboys-Lions game also included another controversial penalty when the crew mistakenly flagged Dallas for a tripping call instead of the Lions' Aidan Hutchinson.
Allen's call is likely to come under further scrutiny this weekend.
