According to a recent story from The Athletic, the NFL, and referee Brad Allen took enough flak following Saturday’s contentious ruling that wiped out a go-ahead two-point conversion that the league defended Allen in a video sent to all 32 teams.
It was the first thorough justification provided by the NFL for the play that has had the Lions cheering since a 20-19 loss to the Cowboys.
With 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, there was a debate around whether Lions left lineman Taylor Decker reported to the referee as qualified to receive a pass on the two-point conversion attempt.
Decker successfully converted after receiving a pass in the end zone, but the officials waved it off, citing unlawful touching during the play, sparking a backlash.
According to the article, the video given by the league was narrated by Walt Anderson, senior vice president of officiating training and development.
“It is the responsibility of the player to be sure that change in status is communicated to the referee by both a physical signal with his hands up and down in front of his chest and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver,” Anderson said in his speech, as reported by The Athletic.
