Some referees just seem to like face time. The legendary Ed Hochuli was very much like that, and Clete Blakeman may have inherited the title. Coming into Thursday night’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowhoys, Blakeman and his crew had called just 110 penalties on the season, third-lowest in the NFL. But in this nationally televised event, Blakeman clearly wanted to make up for lost opportunities. Not only had Blakeman and his crew called 17 penalties through the end of the third quarter, but these more had been waved off after flags were thrown, and Blakeman got his mug on TV yet again.
Several of these calls were highly suspect, as we will see, and overall, social media was down on Blakeman’s repeat performances.
"we're gonna take the rest of the night off and let Clete Blakeman call the game" lol https://t.co/HydbjreBu3 pic.twitter.com/JehvOOCTDJ
— alex (@highlightheaven) December 1, 2023
Clete Blakeman, the guy we all tuned in to see and hear every 30 seconds pic.twitter.com/coOR31ywra
— Brandon Gustafson (@TheBGustafson) December 1, 2023
Every single damn play. This is a joke. Clete Blakeman loves the sound of his own voice pic.twitter.com/NpKAJK3mrr
— Joel Penfield (@jtpenfield) December 1, 2023
Clete Blakeman to his wife when he gets back home and she asks how the game went https://t.co/CGo48Ei6ZC pic.twitter.com/M1s1O90rAm
— Brandon Gustafson (@TheBGustafson) December 1, 2023
Clete Blakeman preparing for a primetime game: https://t.co/WKhV9VHiOX pic.twitter.com/YKntSgXXEs
— Luke Ganje (@keywordnovelist) December 1, 2023
New on @TheNFLWire: We're used to NFL officials blowing calls all over the place this season, but when Clete Blakeman's crew can't even get a simple clock re-set after a ball is re-spotted for a field goal? That's an embarrassment. https://t.co/CNUTAp1XLh
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 1, 2023
Clete Blakeman with that Q4 push to meet the quota.
220 yards of penalties and we aren’t even to the 4th quarter… pic.twitter.com/RaunFMAEE9
— Mitchell Mason (@mitchmason10) December 1, 2023
I don’t know about you guys but I don’t think there’s been enough flags tonight.
MORE CLETE BLAKEMAN!!!
— Chris Brockman🎙️ (@chrisbrockman) December 1, 2023
A flag was thrown here for a face mask but then the refs picked it up… #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/uyetB5Oedm
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2023
How is this pass interference??? #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/TtVnJZXopV
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2023
Crazy this is called a hold even though Lamb is pushing off. #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Tm2Adkdyxs
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2023
Flop or is this worthy of a penalty? #SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/u40cSIHDws
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 1, 2023
Dallas got 4 first down on penalties on that last scoring drive. A very questionable holding and PI call… Clete Blakeman and crew are wilin tonight.#SEAvsDAL pic.twitter.com/QSoSJRUmyp
— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) December 1, 2023
NFL league office should make this officiating crew sit and watch TV copy replay of this game tomorrow like they were fans. Make them feel our pain.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) December 1, 2023
