League Fines Sean Payton for Pointing Out NFL Officials Aren't Very Good at Their Jobs

Look, I understand that the league has rules about publicly criticizing officials (feel free to rip away behind close doors, however -- it's encouraged, even!) but fining Saints head coach Sean Payton for some vague comments about a humongous no-call in last week's loss to the Broncos -- Denver's Jamie Winborn was absurdly offsides on a critical 3rd and 1 late in the fourth quarter -- is sorta dumb.

Particularly since Jerrah Jones ripped Ed Hochuli several times after the Week 2 Chargers-Broncos debacle, and I'm pretty sure the Cowboys didn't even play in that game.

First, the $15,000 comments (from Payton's Monday press conference):

"There are some things that are frustrating about the game that don't sit well. When you guys take a peek at the television copy and I see a no-call, that's that much of a violation, I have a hard time swallowing that, because at some point there's a decision made to say I'm just not throwing the flag. At least that's how it appears to me. It's not a judgment call. You're either offsides or you're not. I have a problem with that."

And this was after Jones went on a Dallas-area radio show to tell Hochuli to "keep that whistle out your mouth."

Unless it went unreported, the NFL didn't fine Jones, even though most reasonable people would agree that his words were more critical than anything that came out of Payton's mouth.

But, hey, rulz is rulz ... unless you're Jerry Jones, apparently. Maybe next time Payton should make his remarks less nebulous and more personal -- and on the radio. I think that's the key.

Or maybe the officials can just do their jobs and we can avoid all this. I mean, it's one thing for Hochuli to inadvertently blow the whistle -- that happens, fine -- but it's something entirely different for an official to ignore the fact that a player is hanging out in the neutral zone, and makes the conscious decision to not throw a flag.

Whatever, Payton's appealing the fine. I'd like to think common sense would prevail here, but, well, I'm skeptical.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

9-27-2008 @ 10:45PM

notherROUND said...

Refs need to do a better job. Some times they kill teams with petty ass calls, and then they blow the big infractions. In some cases "The booth" needs to be a bigger participent.

9-27-2008 @ 9:48PM

ALEX said...

Perhaps it is time for a congrestional investigation in a NFL conspiracy to defraud the fans. How many times are games decided not by the play of the players but by a call, or non-call from the League official. Offensive linemen tackle charging defensive player. Pass interference for one team is a great play for one team but an infraction for its opponenet. Different rules for 'winning' teams but another set for 'losing' teams. It is past time to ask why this is tolerated.

Jerry Darrow said...

The fine against Sean Payton sucks as does the commissioner..whatever happened to the First Amendment...the right to free speech..........

9-28-2008 @ 10:19AM

Tom Shanks said...

Jerry, while i agree the fine sucks, as did the officiating, the first amendment does not apply to structured organizations such as the NFL. They have confidentiality clauses that prohibit such comments. The NFL should have put the comments in the context of the situation and just warned him, but that is to their discretion.

ken said...

thank you

9-27-2008 @ 11:16PM

Trevor from VA said...

Don't talk smack about Jerry Jones. He is the owner of the next team to win the Super Bowl. Sean Payton is a Benedict Arnold-like traitor who left Dallas and stole away several of their good players along the way, and is upset these days because, boo-hoo, they haven't been winning so much lately, and all the sympathy they got after Katrina has subsided. Shut the hell up Sean, and go back to coaching your sorry ass team. Reggie Bush is a lame arse too, by the way.

9-28-2008 @ 9:30AM

RobertM320 said...

Trevor, are you talking tongue-in-cheek, or are you really that dumb...Sean Payton STOLE? your players?? Fujita was a FREE AGENT, emphasis on the word FREE. He went where he wanted to go. And if I remember corrrectly, it was Sean Payton that recommended the Cowboys sign a certain now starting QB (does the name Tony Romo ring a bell?) The 'Boys are getting all the hype, yet if my memory wasn't too washed away by Katrina, the score of the last game between the Cowboys and Saints was...42-17, I think? on National TV? LMAO

9-27-2008 @ 10:46PM

RUFUS said...

ed huckelberry is a dufus.

9-27-2008 @ 11:02PM

WV-COWBOY'S FAN said...

I am tired of watching these Refs every season make dumb ass calls that can make or break a teams chance to get into the "Playoff or Superbowl" If coaches and players have to be responsible for their actions on the field. So should the Refs. Players are fined and or suspended. Coaches lose a time out for their team if they want a second opinion on a call made or a call that should of been made. The Refs need to be held responsible (fined?) after so many bad calls (made and missed). Maybe then they would pay attention to the game.

9-27-2008 @ 11:29PM

redskins fan said...

This kind of crap has gone on far to long. Correct me if im wrong but its gottin a lot worse the last five or six seasons. I dont think they even try to hide it anymore, they just assume were to stupid or entertained to know the difference. I love football, absolutly the greatest game in the world .But the league is ruining the game and its credibility by useing the officials to edge games in the direction they want. One none call, or one bad call at the wright time here an there changes the momentum. And definitly the outcome of the game. Its very obvious when this is going on. I just wish they would stop before they completely ruin a game I love so much.

9-28-2008 @ 12:14AM

Charlie from N.O. said...

Trevor from VA is an absolute moron. The New Orleans Saints didn't ask for anyone's pity after Katrina. You sound like a sorry ass excuse for a football fan. If you think Jerry Jones doesn't have all kinds of "pull" in this league... you're a bigger idiot than what i thought in the first place. Why would his division be the ONLY division not to get all scrambled up when they made the big change a few years back? (it's cuz he has $$$ you effin retard!)

grow the hell up

Willie Wunderlich said...

Why has there been so much f---ing media coverage of officiating lately?? The 3-0 Denver Broncos' offense is #1 in the NFL (power-ranked down at #21 three weeks ago by AOL's idiot sports writers) and I haven't seen a single blog on AOL about Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Eddie Royal as part of the league's new offensive juggernaut. Instead, we have hundreds of idiot bloggers, and stupid old farts like Jerry Jones, obsessing about the NFL refs. Just focus on the athletes, fellas, and stop whining and prating like little old ladies.

9-28-2008 @ 9:35AM

Willie,
You mean the Denver Broncos who are two blown officiating calls in two weeks away from being 1-2 and an afterthought? Two gifts against SD and NO. If the refs make the correct calls you would too busy worrying about your defense (lack of?) to even care about your offense.

9-28-2008 @ 1:03AM

Martin said...

The difference between Jones's comment and Payton's comment is that Payton was commenting about a particular call that went against his team. Jones was more or less commenting about a play that did not directly affect his team. So it appears that the NFL won't punish someone who publicly criticizes a bad call that doesn't directly affect his team.

So here's my suggestion. Given that on any Sunday, there are probably 10 egregious calls by officials, the next time a bad call goes against New Orleans, Payton whould see what other team got reamed by a bad call. Assume it's San Diego (a likely scenario). Payton should criticize the bad call against San Diego, and Turner (San Diego's coach) should criticize the bad call against New Orleans. If my theory holds true, the NFL won't punish either. Of course, I came up with this theory after a few beers, so I make no guarantees.

9-28-2008 @ 1:22AM

sedgwrick said...

SEAN PAYTON SHOULD NOT BE FINED CAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT HIS STATEMENT IS A FACT. JUST LIKE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND OWNERS GET FINED FOR THE BULLCRAP NFL RULES THE REFS SHOULD START GETTING FINED CALLS FOR BAD CALLS AND NON CALLS THAT EVENTLY CAUSES THE OUTCOME OF A GAME BUT A TEAM MUST FILE A COMPLAINT AFTER THE GAME BUT DURING A GAME REPLAY SHOULD OVERTURN THE RULING IF A REF MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE THE SAN DIEGO GAME BEFORE THE NEXT SNAP. EACH FINE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT JUST LIKE THE PLAYERS FINES AND IF A REP CONTINUE TO MAKE MISTAKES THEY SHOULD ULTIMATELY BE SUSPENDED THEN FIRED IF IT COMES TO THAT AND THE NFL SHOULD HAD ONE MORE OFFICIAL TO THE GAME SO THEY WANT MISS A CALL. YOU KNOW ITS A SHAME PLAYERS ARE SUSPENDED CAUSE OF OFF THE FIELD STUFF AND REFS JUST GET REPRIMANDS

9-28-2008 @ 1:27AM

SHEESH said...

Just a thought maybe it's time to get refs who just call NFL games for a living instead of a second job for them. Or maybe it takes too much money out of Jerry Jones'/commishs' pockets?

9-28-2008 @ 6:36AM

knute rockne said...

...somebody please explain to me why nfl referees are so sacred that a coach can't question their fairness...i mean, we live in a free country where its possible to assail judges at every level in the legal system...what's so freakin special about pro sports that a coach can't raise an objection to the way a stupid game is officiated? referees have been proven to be biased and bribable, so why aren't they fair game for comment?

9-28-2008 @ 8:01AM

rich rokosz said...

The "National Stupid League" allow's blown fumble calls' in closing second's of games "to stand"...(GAME DETERMINING EVENTS)!!! Yet take away a coaches freedom of speech...typical! Why have instant replay? Why have fans', who are already "hard pressed" cash-wise to pay for and take a family to a football game and pay for the million's it cost to pay for the instant replay system...if the bozo ref's are going to be allowed game-after-game to determine their outcome with BLOWN CALLS???

9-28-2008 @ 8:28AM

F.C.Ragbottom said...

Look...The refs have made a whole bunch of bad calls. Coaches have a right to complain about it...Especially if a call ...or non-call...affects the outcome of the game. Fining them, I feel, violates the coaches right to " free speech " and should not be something the NFL can fine them for.
The NFL executives ...who make the decisions...are screwing up the game in general with rules that forbid celebration and emotion...Somebody there needs to switch to De-Caf and let the game move on. That's just my opinion...I could be wrong.