VIDEO: Bears-Packers Ref Tony Corrente Honors Red Cashion With First-Down Call
By Sam Dunn
Sure, we're all pretty pumped to have the NFL back in our lives. With the return of pro football comes the return of tailgating, trash talk, and fantasy tinkering, three of the greatest things human society has ever developed. But Tony Corrente, referee for Thursday night's season opener between the Packers and Bears at Soldier Field, reminded us of another thing we do well: honor our fellow brethren.
First dowwwwwnnnnn pic.twitter.com/monu0ya5NU
— Surf & Turf Podcast (@surfandturfpod) September 6, 2019
Are first it seemed something strange just happened here, and it's made worse by the fact that we just don't know what possessed Corrente to emote such a mundane call like this. First downs happen all the time, people!
Well, as it turns out, he was paying tribute to a legend, so we'll give him a pass.
Sounded like referee Tony Corrente just paid tribute to the late Red Cashion with that “First downnnnnnnnn” announcement. Clete Blakeman did that in the preseason as well. Pretty cool.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 6, 2019
Red Cashion, an NFL official for 25 years, passed away earlier this year at the age of 87. Corrente's gesture here was a classy one. We've got to give this our fullest possible endorsement. In fact, let's make sure at least one ref is breaking out this bit of style every week of the season.