Has anyone seen or heard an explanation for this inexplicable* call?

(*Ok, it isn't really inexplicable. But it is unless you just assume it's explained by the hi-we're-the-incompetent-and-useless-Triplette-officiating-team. So anyone got an explanation other than that one.)

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just directed this question to jasonjwilde for u, hopefully he can help us out.

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I was listening to Wayne Larivee on WTMJ this morning. GB was coming out on to the field before the ref blew the whistle to signify the end of the play. they had been warned 2 other times. Rules say the 3rd time is a penalty.

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....was a completely bogus call. I did notice though that for the rest of the game, McCarthy was waving players to move behind the line (on every football field). So chances are they were warned about it. The call was terrible over all. The flag was initially thrown in the direction of catch interference. Instead of completely waiving the penalty off, they decided to use the flag for something else.

I don't believe that Green Bay was on the field until AFTER the whistle was blown.

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I have to admit, I had my tin foil hat on when that happened. I could not for the life of me figure out how that was a flag so ignorantly I thought "wow, referees are pissed at the Packers".

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That is the best explanation I've heard so far. I rewinded it several times on my DVR and it all looked ok except for possibly when the one coach came out to high-five Cobb and smack him on the helmet or whatever. It was the line judge that threw the flag, and it looked like he threw it the moment the coach stepped out to greet Cobb.

If it was called on the position coach, that would explain why the ref didn't bother to say a player's number. I don't know the exact rules concerning coaches stepping out onto the field. I'm assuming it isn't allowed, but I see it all the time (particularly from energetic defensive position coaches).

Could be one of those things like travelling in the NBA though. It's a rule, but you're surprised if it's ever called on anybody good. I'm glad it didn't affect us in the long run.

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Lots of officials are lawyers in their day jobs, right.

This kind of legalistic bullshit sounds like bad lawyering. Like anyone should give a flying fuck whether a position coach comes a bit onto the field a bit early to give attaboys and whatever.

Sounds like the first gut reaction was correct after all: Triplette's crew is worthless.

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I read somewhere on sports.yahoo.com/nfl that the Triplette crew has been rated as the worst officiating crew in the NFL. They're not liked very much and hopefully won't have jobs in 2012 as NFL officials.

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What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

For a young and enthusiastic team let's just chalk it up to a learning experience and trust that it will not happen again.

McCarthy teachs tempo and hustle all the time. Maybe someone wss a bit early on a fair catch.

Be assured that it will be addressed.

We may scoff at it but it will be handled.

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What disturbed me most about the call is that Jeff Triplette seemed to momentarily lose his cool, particularly as he said, "on the Packers!" No matter what happens in a game, the officiating crew should remain glacially calm, if only to maintain the appearance of propriety and impartiality. I never like watching Triplette's crew in any game, but his behavior last night damaged my perception of his professionalism.

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