VIDEO: Audio and Video Makes it Clear Refs Ripped off Dak Prescott and Cowboys on Coin Toss Call
By Adam Weinrib
Before we all spend the remainder of Cowboys-Rams bagging on Dak Prescott and Dallas for tripping over his tongue and awarding Los Angeles double kickoffs per a never-used rule, it's worth actually poring over the footage. One quick look and listen proves this is Walt Anderson's error, and it should be correctable mid-game, in a just world. Prescott clearly said the word "defer," negating all of Anderson's misgivings.
Audio and video of the coin flip call
— Cal "Jon No H" Abar (@KDDrummondNFL) December 15, 2019
?#Cowboys #Rams pic.twitter.com/X4YQoUrpCE
Want more footage? Need another listen? The first two statements out of Prescott's mouth involved kicking, and the third clearly registered a deferral.
No clue how Walt Anderson is still in the NFL in 2019.. guy has done a lot for the game over his 6 decades of officiating but, he has stunk for no less than 10 years now. pic.twitter.com/CC12tAo2TR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 15, 2019
The league micromanages everything via the New York office. There's no time to place a call to the suits and get this obvious misunderstanding changed?
Even the game notes acknowledge Prescott's "defer" call, right at the top of the page! In fact, it's the only thing they deemed noteworthy.
For what it’s worth, official account of coin toss says the Cowboys elected to defer. Dak Prescott said at coin toss the team wanted to kick, defend a certain goal and also defer. “Defer” is what made the record. pic.twitter.com/J8xx4K1HRN
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 15, 2019
Somehow, Walt Anderson managed to turn a slightly-muddled toss into a significant disadvantage for Dallas at HOME. Luckily for the 'Boys, their offense is doing an excellent job of overcoming the noise created by Anderson's gaffe.