Legendary Sportscaster Al Michaels Arrested and Charged with Suspicion of DUI in Southern California

Do you believe in Miracles DUI, YES!

Emmy award winning legendary sports broadcaster, NBC Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer Al Michaels and the individual most known for his 1980 Winter Olympics USA hockey team Miracle on Ice call … “Do you believe in miracles” was  arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI in Southern California on Friday night. The 68 year old Michaels was charged with misdemeanor DUI and spent approximately five hours in the Santa Monica City Jail. He was released early Saturday morning on his own recognizance. Michael’s is scheduled to appear at Los Angeles Municipal Court at 8:30 a.m. on June 26.

Sgt. Ryan Gradle said Michaels, the current play-by-play announcer for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” was extremely cooperative and was released on his own recognizance Saturday morning.

Michaels was arrested shortly before 10 p.m., then spent a little more than five hours in the Santa Monica City Jail, the Los Angeles Inmate Information Center said.

According to CBS Sports, Michaels was evaluated for suspicion of DUI, brought to the station for a Breathalyzer test, and it came out .08, which was at the legal limit. Hmm, so how are they going to get this to stick? It would appear that 4 to 5 hours transpired between the time of the arrest and the time in which the Breathalyzer test took place.

Sorry, the VIDEO below has nothing to do with Al Michaels’ DUI, but any time I can show or reference ‘Miracle on Ice,’ the greatest US sporting moment in history and the greatest upset of all time, I take the opportunity to do so.

Did Baltimore Raven LB Ray Lewis Get Illegal Banned Substances (Deer-Antler Apray with IGF-1) from S.W.A.T.S to Speed Up his Triceps Recovery?

PED … Oh that dreaded deer antler spray …

With the Super Bowl  XLVII only days away along comes the following story to bring some life to media day … Did Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis use a banned substance from S.W.A.T.S to speed up his recovery from his triceps injury? According to a Sports Illustrated story, he did. According to the report, Lewis used a deer-antler spray that contained IGF-1, which is on the NFL’s list of banned substances. With so many athletes using PED, it is almost like it is a story and news alert when we learn of one who isn’t using. Defiant denials of the use of PED from athletes mean little today. We have been down that path before.

Sports Illustrated has published an in-depth examination of a company called Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.) and its relationship with high-profile athletes, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

S.W.A.T.S. is an edgy sports science company run by a gym owner/former stripper. The company specializes in holographic stickers, deer-antler pills, and other, um, progressive means of enhancing a player’s performance.

David Epstein and George Dohrmann write that S.W.A.T.S. owner Mitch Ross recorded a phone conversation with Lewis after the linebacker’s injury in October.

 As reported at ESPN, Ray Lewis is denying reports that he used PED, performance enhancing drugs. However, in this day and age of sports, one has to wonder who isn’t using them. Although it has been stated that Lewis has never tested positive for a banned substance, one has to ask when was the last time he was tested.  One thing is for certain, its a good thing that Ray Lewis is retiring from the NFL. The legs of this story most likely will go away when Lewis does. Although, it will depend on whether he wants to get a TV gig after his career, then the legs of the PED will be back.

Ray Lewis was given a product to help heal his torn triceps that contains a banned substance, according to a Sports Illustrated report that will appear on newsstands Monday. The Baltimore Ravens linebacker has not tested positive and denies using it, a team official told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.

The Ravens had a meeting with Lewis on Tuesday morning to discuss the article.

“He denied using the substance discussed in the article, and we believe him,” Byrne told ESPN.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he has not talked to Lewis about the report.

“Ray has worked incredibly hard to get back. I would hate to see anything diminish that,” he said. “My understanding is that he’s passed every random substance test that he’s taken throughout his career.”

When asked by SI whether he had talked to Ross, Lewis replied, “I told him to send me some more of the regular stuff, the SWATS, the stickers or whatever.” Asked by the magazine whether what he was sent helped, Lewis replied, “I think a lot of things helped me.”

Barack Obama Says He Would Think Hard before Letting his Son Who Would Look Like Trayvon Martin Play Football

LOST IN SMALLNESS YET AGAIN … Don’t look now, President Barack Obama and Democrats might look to ban “assault” football …

Once again Barack Obama is giving his two cents and making comments where he is not wanted. With all due respect Mr. President, SHUT UP AND CREATE JOBS AND BALANCE THE BUDGET!!! President Barack Obama stated in an interview that he would have to think hard before he would have let his son Trayvon Martin play football because of the violence of the sport. Before any libs go mental over the Trayvon Martin reference, it was Barack Obama who said (VIDEO) that “if he had a son he would look like Trayvon Martin.”  These are big words from the Food Stamp president. I word of warning, don’t let this meddlesome lib get his hands on football, he will be changing it to look something that resembles to physicality of checkers. Once again, the big government, Nanny state president wants to rid violence from the world. Let’s get one thing straight, Barack Obama’s only experience with football is his constant spiking of the Bin Laden football.

How else can I divert the public’s attention as I ruin America?

President Obama said he would have concerns as a parent allowing a son to play football because of the threat of brain injuries.

“I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” said Obama in an interview with The New Republic published Sunday.

The president said, over time, he expected the sport to “gradually” change to “try to reduce some of the violence.”

“In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much,” he added.

I am a huge football fan and have personally played football on every level from Pee-Wee, Pop Warner, high school and college, all except the NFL, and my conscience is fine. Do I think that there are things that can be done to help players deal with this issue and are concussions an issue, yes. Do I believe there is better technology that can be used with helmets, yes. Do I think that there should be better healthcare provided to those former pro-players who paved the way more the million dollar players of today, yes. That being said, let’s get one thing straight, football is a violent game. Those who play the sport know that. Its only those liberals and folks like you  Mr. President who could never play the sport because you are not tough enough to think that you can legislate violence. This is much like your ridiculous liberal approach on gun violence thinking that banning guns some how would take them out of the hands of the criminals.

It is not Obama’s job, nor is it his place to mouth off about his hypothetical son on whether he would or would not allow him to play football. Not unless Obama has some news to tell us and he is like former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and has a love child son that we are unaware of. FOOTBALL IS VIOLENT. FOOTBALL IS NOT T-BALL. If Obama had his way he would attempt to take all hitting out of the sport that would reduce it to the popularity and viewership of MSNBC.

Barack Obama is concerned about the violence of football and the small segment of individuals who would actually be affected. Really Mr. President, how about your disastrous economic policies that have had millions of Americans and their families (including children) being forced on to unemployment? What about the one’s who leave the work force all together? How about the children that are harmed by the record number of people in the United States on food stamps? What about the record federal debt Obama has placed around the necks of children, grand children and great grandchildren? This president has done more to harm children in the past 4 years that the NFL has to all players combined from its inception.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Baltimore Ravens Shock Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos in Double Overtime 38-35

The Baltimore Ravens and retiring all-pro linebacker Ray Lewis’ Cinderella story continues …

The Baltimore Ravens, a 10 point underdog, have stunned the Denver Broncos at Mile High and knocked off the number #1 seed in the AFC 38-35 in double overtime.  All of the talk was about Peyton Manning and his MVP like year, yet it was the Ravens QB Joe Flacco who outplayed Manning and threw for 3 TD’s and no interceptions. The talk was all about the Broncos defense, yet it was the Ravens D behind their inspirational and 17 year veteran LB Ray Lewis who won the day and intercepted Manning two times and turned three Manning turnovers into 17 points, including the game winning FG in double overtime.

The Broncos were primed to win the game and many pretty much had thought they had when with 31 seconds left in the game and a Bronco defense playing a deep prevent defense some how allowed a receiver to get behind them as Flacco hooked up with Jacoby Jones on what is beng referred to as the “Flacco Fling”.

Somewhere up there in the all-time playoff archives near the “Hail Mary” by Roger Staubach and the “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris now lives the “Flacco Fling” by the Baltimore Ravens quarterback.

One big throw down the sideline, 70 make-or-break yards on a wing and a prayer — a high, arcing touchdown pass that soared through the icy air, flew over two defenders, landed in the hands of Jacoby Jones, saved the game for Baltimore and kept Ray Lewis’ 17-year career going at least one more week.

The record will show Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal 1:42 into the second overtime Saturday to give the Ravens a 38-35 victory over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The highlight? That would be Flacco’s game-tying touchdown to Jones on third-and-3 from the 30 with 31 seconds left in regulation and no timeouts.

Sorry I cannot resist the following, but  it would appear that Tim Tebow has the last laugh, as his brother tweeted, on the Denver Broncos and John Elway, who all but ran the former Bronco QB out of town last year. Question: Who has more playoff wins with the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning or Tim Tebow? The answer would be Tebow. Peyton Manning now has a post season record of 9 wins and 11 losses and the temperature at kickoff was 13 degrees, and Manning record fell to 0-4 lifetime in playoff games when the temperature is 40 or less. Good luck ever winning a playoff game in Denver. I had always wondered when the Broncos brought Manning in to play who had played in a Dome his entire career, how exactly they were going to get over the outside weather issue. Looks like they have not.

The Broncos had this game won except for the fact that they played the final minutes of the game not to lose, rather than to win. The play calling by the Broncos at the end of the game was as stunning as was the Ravens come back and eventual victory. How do the Broncos take the ball out of Peyton Manning’s hands with the game on the line? Manning, who is considered ne of the best QB’s of all time and an obvious unanimous first ballot Hall of Famer had a 3rd down and 6 to go with just under 2 minutes to go with a 7 point lead and they ran a simple off tackle running play. Really? Isn’t this the reason why you brought Manning in to win the game? Then after the Ravens scored the tying TD with 31 seconds left in the game, with two time outs and Manning as the QB, he took a knee and they played for OT. What in the hell were the Broncos thinking? Peyton Manning is supposed to be the greatest QB of all time and on two separate occasions with the game on the line, the Broncos took the ball out of his hands. To borrow a line from the movie, ‘The Replacements’ … “winners want the ball”.

After an exceptional come back and MVP-like year by Peyton Manning, it will be the terrible and rookie-like pass that he attempted in OT that was intercepted that eventually lead to the game winning FG by Baltimore that will be the lasting image.

UPDATE I: Tim Tebow’s brother trolls the entire city of Denver on Twitter

Tebow’s brother Peter took to Twitter with a simple message: “Am I the only one in Denver who’s happy right now?” Well, the Ravens are probably celebrating, but you get the point. (And just to drive that point home, Tebow retweeted someone who wrote, “That’s karma, Elway.”)
Of course, it’s easier to make pro-Tebow jabs on Twitter than it is to score on Denver’s secondary. Even so, this nonsense isn’t going to stop until Peyton Manning actually wins a playoff game for Denver.

Black Monday, 7 NFL Coaches Get Sacked For Lack Of Performance … US Voters Could Learn Something, Should Have Given Obama the Ax

BLACK MONDAY … How fitting that on the final day of 2012, seven NFL coaches also had their final day with their respective teams as they were fired. The ax came down in a decisive  way in Arizona, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City and San Diego as the Cardinals, Eagles, Bills, Browns, Chiefs and Chargers are all looking for new head coaches for 2013. Some NFL franchises also fired their GM’s as well. Other spared their head coaches and fired coordinators instead. Of all the coaches below who were sacked, I am mildly surprised that Lovie Smith of the Bears was fired.

Arizona Cardinals: Coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves are out, a team source told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Cardinals later confirmed the moves.

Buffalo Bills: Coach Chan Gailey was let go after three seasons that went nowhere in Buffalo. The defense and quarterback play never improved. It’s unclear if general manager Buddy Nix will remain.

Chicago Bears: In the first mild surprise of the day, coach Lovie Smith was fired after three playoff appearances in nine years, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport first reported. General manager Phil Emery took the job last year and will hire his own man.

Cleveland Browns: The team announced Monday morning that coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert are both out. They never had much of a chance once new owner Jimmy Haslam bought the team.

Kansas City Chiefs: Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt announced the Chiefs have parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel. The team said it has not made a final decision about GM Scott Pioli’s status. NFL.com’s Steve Wyche reported Sunday that the Chiefs are expected to retain Pioli despite a disastrous 2-14 season.
Philadelphia Eagles: Owner Jeffrey Lurie confirmed Monday morning that coach Andy Reid is out after 14 seasons in Philadelphia. The Eagles won’t waste any time starting a coaching search.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers announced both coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith have been let go. Former Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf has been brought in as a consultant to help search for the next leadership group.

Personally, I am a little surprised that the Jacksonville Jags, Dallas Cowboys and NY Jets did not fire their coaches. Jacksonville was the worst team in football, the Cowboys have floundered in mediocrity failing to make the playoffs year after year and Rex Ryan, head coach of the Jets is the most over-rated coach in football.

The American voters could learn a thing or two from the NFL. Coaches that do little to nothing in one, two or three years do not deserve any longer. If Barack Obama was an NFL football coach he would have been fired after 4 failed year. To compare Obama’s presidency to an NFL team, it would have been the equivalent of taking over an aging 4-12 team. After four years of failed draft picks [green energy companies] and disastrous and pricey free agents pick ups [trillion dollar deficit spending] and transforming the football operations for the worse, Obama would have a 6-10 team and still blaming the previous coach for his plight.

However, sadly for the United States we seem to take the hiring and firing of football coaches more seriously then the electing of a president.

NFL Will Observe a Moment of Silence at Games in Wake of Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings … NY Giants Will Wear Initials S.H.E.S on Helmets

NFL to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings … 

In the wake of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that left 27 dead, including 20 school children, the NFL will observe a moment of silence at their home games prior the the American National Anthem in tribute to the lives lost in Newtown, CT. It is most certain that there will not be a dry eye in the house during that silence.  The NY Giant players will wear the initials S.H.E.S. (Sandy Hook Elementary School) on their helmets in their game against the Atlanta Falcons.

All across America, its citizens have been shocked and horrified by the mass murder shootings in the small town of Newtown, CT. Likewise, across the NFL football stadiums on Sunday, fans in the stands and watching at home will pause for a moment of silence and prayer to reflect on the senseless murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Dallas Cowboys Nose Tackle Josh Brent Arrested for Intoxication Manslaughter in Death of Teammate Jerry Brown

More grim news for the National Football League as the headlines occur off the field rather than on. 

Another week, and another person has been killed by an NFL player. Josh Brent, nose tackle for the Dallas Cowboys was arrested early Saturday morning for intoxication manslaughter as his vehicle was in a one car accident that killed Dallas teammate Jerry Brown. The accident occurred at approximately 2:20AM. According to police statements, Brown was found unresponsive at the accident scene and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Josh Brent and Jerry Brown both played college football  at the University of Illinois  As per USA Today, responding officers believed alcohol to be a contributing factor. Brent did not pass sobriety tests and underwent a mandatory blood draw at a nearby hospital. Josh Brent had been a member of the Cowboys for 3 years.

However, accidents do not just happen. Josh Brent has had trouble and a run in with the law in the past due to alcohol.  In June of 2009, Josh Brent was sentenced to two years probation and 60 days in jail as part of a plea agreement from a drunken driving arrest in Champaign County, Illinois. Brent obviously learned nothing and has now not only killed another, but ruined his life as well.

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was arrested early Saturday morning for intoxication manslaughter after a one-vehicle accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown.

Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz said the accident happened about 2:20 a.m. Saturday in the Dallas suburb. Brent was speeding when the vehicle hit a curb and flipped at least once, Argumaniz said.

Argumaniz says the 25-year-old Brown was found unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Statement from Dallas Cowboy team owner Jerry Jones:

“We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown. At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with the members of Jerry’s family and all of those who knew him and loved him.”

UPDATE I: Fresh off Bob Costas’ comments regarding guns after last weeks Jovan Belcher murder-suicide , I wonder whether he will say next that too many football player own cars as to the reason for this terrible incident. Will Costas provide a rant and go on a soap box regarding excessive drinking and driving by payers and that there is an alcohol culture in the NFL?

UPDATE II: $500,000 bond set for Josh Brent.

NBC’s Bob Costas Parrots Liberal Talking Points and Anti-Gun Agenda in Wake of Kansas City Chiefs Jovan Belcher’s Murder/Suicide

Way to go Bob Costas, without any facts, you blame guns for the suicide of Jovan Belcher and the murder of his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins. What investigative journalism Bob. How sad that Costas and NBC would use this tragedy to promote their anti-gun agenda.

A note to Bob Costas, shut up and talk about something you actually know about. During NBC’s Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, Costas decided to spew the liberal anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment agenda against guns. It appears that others have open letters to Bob Costas as well.  What was more unfortunate, the fact that Costas thought he was on MSNBC cable and agreed with a liberal KC columnists that guns are to blame for all the evils of society or the fact that Costas was completely clueless and ignorant on the subject of domestic violence?

Bob Costas parroted Jason Whitlock’s ignorant comment that, ”If Jovan Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.” Really Bob? If you actually believe this, which you must because you made the comment, you know little to nothing about domestic violence. You might want to research the topic before you use it as a vehicle for your anti-gun agenda.

“If Jovan Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.”

Costas stated, ”If Jovan Belcher didn’t possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.” Hmm, so Bob do you really think that a football player who is 6 ft+, 200 pounds + could kill a woman with their bare hands?  But its only a gun as to why they are dead? Sadly “Domestic violence” occurs every day and woman and men are beaten and killed by methods other than guns. Victims of domestic violence have been killed by strangulation, beaten with bats, butchered with axes and hatchets and stabbed with knives.  As for methods of suicide, overdosing, cutting one’s wrists, carbon monoxide posing, hanging and driving one’s car off a bridge, into a bridge abutment or on coming traffic are just a few examples that come to mind. But its only guns that kill. What an IDIOT!

In the wake of Costas’ anti-gun comments he is taking lost of criticism and rightly so. For such a little and small minded man Costas finds himself in a fire storm of his own making. Looks like the diminutive Costas is backtracking big time on his comments. This tends to happen when one makes a stupid and knee-jerk reaction comment about something that one knows nothing about.

6:27PM EST December 3. 2012 – NBC’s Bob Costas, communicating through a spokesman Monday about on-air comments about guns he made Sunday night, “feels an unfortunate leap was taken that he was advocating taking away Second Amendment rights. He was not.”

An NBC spokesman stated that Costas is “in favor of people owning guns to hunt and carrying them in reasonably controlled circumstances.” WHO GIVES A S#@T what Costas is in favor of. The Second Amendment of the US Constitution does not provide a right to hunt. It does not provide a right to own a gun according to Bob Costas.

Just curious Bob, how come you did not mention that maybe having children out of wedlock and marrying the woman who has your child rather than playing the field was not the cause of the murder-suicide? I guess that would not fit the liberal talking points, now would it? Watch Greg Gutfeld blasts ‘ghoulish’ Bob Costas, ‘bigot’ Jason Whitlock at The Daily Caller.

“If it was a deadly flood, it would be the same saying we need to ban water,” Gutfeld said. “Here is the problem — there is no law that actually could have stopped him owning a gun. So what is Costas saying? He is talking about a total gun ban, which makes him a hypocritical buffoon, because he spends most of his life wandering in and out of the New York buildings where he is flanked by people who are armed.”

“He is a sanctimonious ghoul, because whenever something like this comes up, he has to come up. It’s ‘pay attention to me.’ It really wasn’t about the tragedy. It’s about scoring points with other people in media,” Gutfeld added.

Note to self,  if I am ever in Bob Costas’ presence and a crime is being committed that I will not protect him with the use of my conceal carry gun permit.

MURDER/SUICIDE: NFL Kansas City Chief Player Commits Suicide at Arrowhead Stadium After Fatally Killing his Girl Friend (Update: Cheif LB Jovan Belcher Confirmed Dead in murder-suicide)

MURDER/SUICIDE AND THE NFL … The Kansas City Chiefs are having one of their worse seasons ever and it just got even worse.

As reported at ESPN, an unnamed Kansas City Chief player has committed suicide this morning at Arrow Head Stadium at approximately 8 pm central time. It is also being reported by According to KCTV-5 in Kansas City that the player who committed suicide is believed to have fatally shot his girl friend at her home in the 5400 block of Crysler around 8 am.  The player then drove to the Kansas City Chief practice facility, where he turned the gun on himself. He was pronounced dead shortly after. Police have not released the names of the girlfriend or the Chief player.

An unnamed Kansas City Chiefs player has committed suicide at the team facility and police are on the scene, the police confirmed to ESPN on Saturday morning.

Local reports say police are operating with the belief the player fatally shot his girlfriend at a house before driving to Arrowhead Stadium and killing himself at around 8 a.m local time. The Associated Press reported the player’s age to be 25.

From NFL.com: Kansas City Chief Player fatally shoots himself.

The Chiefs have released a statement in regard to the incident:

“We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”

UPDATE I: The Associated Press reported the player’s age to be 25 and according to the active Chief rooster, the following players are 25 years old. Also listed are those in injured reserve and the IR practice squad. If the reports are correct that the age of the player was 25, then it must be one of the following as per team roster.

• Belcher, Jovan (LB) 
• Arenas, Javier (CB)
• Brown, Jalil (CB)
• Charles, Jamaal (RB)
• Moeaki, Tony (TE)
• Newsome, Jamar (WR)
• Powe, Jerrell (NT)
• Stanzi, Ricky (QB) -
• IR: Tanney, Alex (QB)
• Prac Sqad IR: Patterson, Luke

UPDATE II:We were correct in our list of possibilities as to who the unnamed player was who was involved in the murder/suicide this morning at Arrowhead Stadium. As reported at SB Nation, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher confirmed dead in murder-suicide.

After rumors had swirled over the last few minutes about the identity of the Kansas City Chiefs player involved in a murder-suicide early Saturday morning, police have confirmed that linebacker Jovan Belcher took the life of his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself at Arrowhead Stadium.

UPDATE III: Now being reported at multiple sources. Deadspin has pics from Facebook of Belcher, his girlfriend and their child, uploaded to this Facebook page. The caption reads, “Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.” Sad, so very sad that it could come to this. What a complete waste. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Get’s worse if possible. According to Twitter and other news sources, Belcher may have committed suicide in front of Chief head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli.

Javon Belcher kills himself in front of Crennel, Pioli after thanking them.

VIDEO: KCTV5

Lions not Thankful that Real Refs are Back … Badly Blown Call by Refs Nearly Cost Detroit Lions Turkey Day Game Against Houston Texans

Thanksgiving Day football – 2012.

Not everyone is thankful this Thanksgiving that the full time referees are back making calls in the NFL. During today’s annual Turkey Day game in Detroit, the refs blew a call in the Texans - Lions game that resulted in an 81 yard TD run by Texans running back Justin Forsett. Not only was it a blown call, it was a badly blown call that changed the momentum of the game. The running backs hand, elbow and knee all touched the ground and yet not one ref blew their whistle to stop the play. Instead they all blew the call.  Making matters worse, if possible, Lions coach Jim Schwartz threw the challenge flag early, which meant the play would not be reviewed.

Video Hat Tip: SB Nation

Normally this play would’ve been reviewed, as all scoring plays are. But Lions coach Jim Schwartz threw the challenge flag early, which meant the play would not be reviewed. The rule not allowing a challenge in that instance doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the head coach needs to know the rules, so Schwartz can be blamed for that one.

So you can gain an appreciation for how bad the call was, check it out live.

This for this ridiculous rule to be changed immediately after the season.

UPDATE :I The game has gone to overtime and both teams have missed potential game winning FG’s. Game still tied.

UPDATE II: Correction, blown call costs Lions game as Texans win in OT 34-31 in a game that should have been won by Lions in regulation. Thanks Refs!