The Day After ReversalGate Is, If Possible, Even More Comical

Rufus T. Firefly, NFL Officiating

(ESPN) - Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant came onto the field without his helmet to argue the initial pass interference call Sunday, an act that had many wondering why he wasn't flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. But (NFL Head of Officials Dean) Blandino said that Bryant's actions weren't an automatic penalty, as the rule against players taking their helmets off on the field applies only to players in the game at that time.

Everybody got that? It's OK for any player who isn't in the game to come on to the field after every play to argue about calls. It's a brave new world of NFL officiating. I, for one, look forward to more run-ins during an NFL game than in a poorly booked pro wrestling event. (And yes, I'm picking out Sports Entertainment for a reason, folks. The NFL qualifies as it now.)

"The ref really wasn't listening to what I was saying," Bryant said Sunday. "I gave him my opinion. I thought it was a bad call."

Thanks for clearing that up, Dez. Good thing you were there, otherwise the ref might not have known that people who were rooting for Dallas thought it was a bad call. You're a very, very special snowflake, and everyone needs to know what you think!

"He was blocking me out and telling me to get back (to the sidelines) and the coaches, they were grabbing me. Since the play was dead, I thought it was OK."

This just in: what you think are the rules is more important than the rules. Or, well, if you wear a Dallas uniform, or if you are Dez Bryant. Detroit Fan, I'm sorry that you had to learn what it was like to play the Cowboys all at once. I have decades of this nonsense in my rear view. Builds up a tolerance, it does.

The official on Sunday had "discretion" to decide whether Bryant's actions warranted a penalty and decided against it, although Blandino said he would have supported a penalty on the Cowboys' star receiver if one had been called.

Well, isn't that swell? Blandino Firefly would have supported calling a penalty on something that's a penalty if anyone else in the NFL does it. But I can't see the stove.

 Blandino was also asked about his presence on a Cowboys party bus in August and perceptions that he is biased toward owner Jerry Jones' team. He said the bus incident is something that "happened," but it has nothing to do with how Sunday's game was officiated.

My friends, the NFL may talk like corrupt idiots, and look like corrupt idiots, but don't be fooled. They really are corrupt idiots.

(And yes, so are we for watching it, and caring about who wins or loses...)