Turns Out NFL Fined Jerry Jones $25K for Criticizing Ed Hochuli Two Weeks Ago

Yesterday, I got up on the well-worn FanHouse pedestal and wondered why the league would fine Saints head coach Sean Payton for making vague comments about crappy officiating that directly affected the outcome of last week's Saints-Broncos game, when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones frequently -- and publicly -- ripped Ed Hochuli after he gifted the Broncos a win against the Chargers two weeks ago.

From Sunday NFL Countdown's Chris Mortensen:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo this week basically clarifying to all clubs that any criticism -- public criticism -- of officials is unwarranted. Sean Payton of the Saints was fined $15,000 -- he was going to appeal because others had been critical and hadn't been fined, but guess what? Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fined $25,000 for his public criticism of Ed Hochuli from two weeks ago.

So it sounds like Payton has decided to drop the appeal, even if he has a legitimate gripe. Like I wrote previously, rules are rules, and if the NFL stipulates that you can't ridicule game officials, even if it's OBVIOUS TO ANYBODY HALF-PAYING ATTENTION that Jamie Winborn was offsides.

Fine, whatever. But I'll say it again: it's one thing for Hochuli to inadvertently blow the whistle -- that happens -- but to not call a neutral zone infraction is much, much worse than pointing it out in a Monday press conference. At least for those of us not in the league office.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-28-2008 @ 12:50PM

Jhavlic said...

nobody has mentioned the non call on a facemask of Brian westbrook. The guys head was turned almost half way around and not one flag. It happed later against the Eagles and no call. Sometimes in crowds things happen that the refs miss but wide open infractions going uncalled is wrong. I don't care if it's for your team or against a rule is a rule.

9-28-2008 @ 2:00PM

Eric said...

I understand missing something like a face mask. Not defending it, but understand it. But what irks the hell out of me is when they call something that didn't happen, to wit, the defender being dragged down by the receiver and being called for interference. You say the referee couldn't see the shirt being pulled from that angle, fine. Then he couldn't see interference either.

9-28-2008 @ 8:08PM

bj prophylactico said...

How about the bogus helmet to helmet call on julius peppers today negating a pick6 for my DST unit in a cash league. Man, Hoculi is F**cking up.

Willie Wunderlich said...

Get a brain Wilson. It would have been a fluke if San Diego had won in Denver. Denver outplayed them and is 11-2 against the Chargers in Denver in the Mike Shanahan era. Denver also kicked the Saints last week. You can blame it on the officials if you must, but your perceptions are seriously flawed. As for the old Dallas dingleberry Jerry Jones, they should give the moron a butt whipping and tell him to shut his stinking mouth, at least until he finally wins a playoff game against a quality team.