Every NFL fan has been talking about Thursday night’s “Red Flag-Gate”, namely, when Dolphins coach Nick Saban threw out the challenge flag to have Heath Miller’s 87-yard touchdown catch reviewed. The play would have certainly been overturned, as replays conclusively showed that Miller’s toes touched out of bounds at around the 1-yard line, but the referees never saw Saban’s nonchalant toss because they were facing the other way, as the ball was snapped for the extra point less than a second later.
Sorry, Dolphins fans – there is no controversy here. Saban screwed up. And he knows it, admitting in his post-game comments that he had no one to blame but himself. His staff took too long to give him the go-ahead to review after looking at the replay, but it is still the coach’s obligation to make sure the referees are aware of the challenge. The referees cannot be expected to look to the sideline for a red flag when the ball is a split-second away from being snapped; what’s happening on the field, not on the sideline, is their primary focus.
Personally, I figure if a referee attempts to hit a penalized player in the helmet with the flag, then certainly a coach should try to hit the referee in the derriere with their flag. That’ll get their attention, I’m sure.