This has not been a good year for Mike Carey.
The former NFL referee is now the rules expert for CBS and has been called upon for interpretations and analysis during challenges and other calls throughout games, much like the way Mike Pereira does for FOX. The only difference is Pereira usually gets things right, while Carey has seemingly been consistently wrong.
Take what happened on Thursday night.
After the Chargers tied their game with the Broncos at 7, they appeared to get a strip on the ensuing kickoff. The play was reviewed and overturned by the officials. The great part was how moments before the officials announced they were overturning the call, Carey was on TV saying that it would be upheld.
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Despite being incorrect in his prediction, Carey stood by his thinking:
The Hi Def shot showed clearly the ball moving before the elbow was down.
— Mike Carey (@MikeCareyRef94) October 24, 2014
But is that the proper criteria for evaluating the fumble?
For those who question the play in Denver…the runner never lost CONTROL of the ball….moving doesn't mean loss of control!
— Jim Daopoulos (@RefereeJimD) October 24, 2014
On the fumble that was reversed the forearm was down before ball came loose. Forearm down before elbow.
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) October 24, 2014
The play seemed inconclusive to me, therefore I agree with Carey that the call on the field should have stood. It was just really funny seeing Carey be so certain about the call and seeing the opposite thing happen, and not as funny for the Chargers who lost out on what would have been a game-changer.
