PFWA Pool Reporter Daniel Popper Interview with Referee Clete Blakeman
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Monday, October 21, 2024
Question: What did you guys see on the unnecessary roughness call on the final drive of the game?
Blakeman: “The flag was thrown by the back judge, middle of the field, center field guy. He had a really good look at it. It was essentially helmet-to-helmet contact near the head and neck area of the receiver, which is what triggered the foul for unnecessary roughness.”
Question: So the call, just to be clear here, was because of helmet-to-helmet contact?
Blakeman: “Correct.”
Question: And then on the previous drive, on the third down, you guys had thrown a flag there, but picked it up. It looked like Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines was pretty upset. What call was he looking for there and why did you guys initially throw the flag and then pick it up?
Blakeman: “Well, you can ask him what call he was looking for. But the call was that it was essentially uncatchable by way of the flight of the ball and where it landed. So, we got together, three or four of us, and decided that it was uncatchable.”
Question: So initially, the flag was thrown because there would have been illegal contact or pass interference, but then it was deemed uncatchable?
Blakeman: “Correct.”
