The NFL has taken the highly unusual step of firing down judge Hugo Cruz for performance reasons, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
Cruz last worked in Week 6 and is no longer an NFL employee.
Cruz, who joined the NFL in 2015, was responsible for one high-profile mistake this season. He missed an obvious false start by Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Russell Okung on a scoring play in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. He did not work in Week 7.
The news was first reported by FootballZebras.com, which tracks college and pro football officiating trends. According to the website, the NFL has never fired an official in-season during the Super Bowl era because of performance. [Reply]
It probably wouldn’t help any, but I would love for the refs to have to face the media after the games like the players do. It would be hilarious to watch them try to defend their blown calls off the top of their heads. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Womble:
They should fire the refereeing crew who officiated Chiefs Panthers immediately. What the **** was that today!?
Came here today to see if I was the only one that felt this was, by far, the worst crew of the season. Phantom holding calls, no calls, and the egregious personal foul on Reid on their 2pt attempt. Just outrageously bad today. [Reply]
Shawn Smith is the ref. Isn't he the one who called that absurd "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty on Chris Jones that cost us the Colts game a couple years ago? I'm pretty sure it was. That guy always irritates me when he's the head official of a game. [Reply]
Originally Posted by lcarus:
Shawn Smith is the ref. Isn't he the one who called that absurd "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty on Chris Jones that cost us the Colts game a couple years ago? I'm pretty sure it was. That guy always irritates me when he's the head official of a game.
We’re 7-2 with him as ref, and he was ref for the AFCCG, and the Chargers game this year. [Reply]
