Referee Crew Reassigned After Rough Outing At 49ers-Cardinals Game
NEW YORK (CBS SF) — The NFL has moved referee and Stockton resident Pete Morelli's crew off the upcoming Sunday night game between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
Instead, the crew will work an afternoon game between the Eagles and Patriots.
Morelli's group was heavily criticized by both sides after the 49ers-Cardinals game Sunday.
49ers defensive end Quinton Dial was called for a debateable roughing penalty for his sack on Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer during the Cardinal's game-winning drive, and 49ers penalized 13 times overall, prompting a number of players to openly criticize the referees.
"I'm not really too worried about getting fined, I thought those refs sucked," said guard Alex Boone Sunday.
"If you don't like what we say then don't like what we say, don't throw a flag for it. That's what I'm sick about this league," he added. "This is supposed to be a man's game. Be a man. That's what pisses me off, because guys like that work in this league and work on that field, and we have to deal with it. Whatever."
Arizona coach Bruce Arians said the officials "can't count to three," referring to a sequence when the crew lost track of downs following an incorrect application of a penalty.
Earlier this season, side judge Rob Vernatchi from Morelli's crew was suspended for one game for not properly keeping track of the clock in a Pittsburgh-San Diego matchup. At the time, the league said the error would affect the full-season evaluation of Morelli's crew.
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