Packers Daily Links: Lance Easley Back in the Spotlight

On Sunday, former NFL replacement referee appeared at Richard Sherman's charity softball game. That and more in today's Daily Links...

On Sunday, former NFL replacement referee Lance Easley (he of the infamous "Fail Mary" game) acted as umpire for the charity softball game of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, which included several opportunities for Easley to further upset Packers fans. During the event, Easley posed for a picture with wide receiver Golden Tate with his arms raised as if he were calling a touchdown. On top of that, Easley also supposedly signed an Aaron Rodgers jersey, according to a caption of a photo posted to Instagram. And if that weren't enough, it was also recently learned that Easley is publishing a book now available for pre-order on Amazon. Easley is cashing in on his 15 minutes of fame, all at the expense of the Packers.

Lance Easley is still sticking to his guns that he made the correct call too. In an interview published in the Everett, Wa. Daily Herald, Easley is quoted as saying, “The NFL upheld it, I’ve looked at plenty of video, I’ve talked to my replay guys, there’s nothing to turn it over,” Easley said. “The fact is, if you want to say that the defender had control of it in the air—which is loosely used, because really process of a catch you have to have two feet, or another body part, and control the ball when you touch the ground in bounds—the ball could have come loose anywhere in that process for a second, which nobody can really see even with all the cameras, and if it did, then it’s a loose ball but it didn’t touch the ground, so if they’re both on it, it goes to the offense. So it was just one of those calls. It’s just a play that will live in NFL history.”

More on Lance Easley comes from ESPN.com, AllGreenBayPackers.com, ProFootballTalk.com and FoxSports.com.

Linebacker Clay Matthews was named the second most important Packer of 2013 by FoxSportsWisconsin.com. "Matthews is what makes the Packers' defense go," writes Paul Imig. "He's disruptive against the run and is an elite pass-rusher. Even though he only played in 12 games last season, Matthews still finished fifth in the NFL in sacks with 13. Six of those sacks came in the first two games when the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears mistakenly thought that Matthews could be stopped with one-on-one blocking. After that, the rest of the NFL took note and would often double- or triple-team him." There's no doubt the Packers need Matthews to be a pass-rush threat for them to succeed. Now they just need someone else to complement him.

As part of the continuing series, tackle Bryan Bulaga was named the third most important player.

As part of a separate series, Jeremy Ross and Mike Neal are respectively named the 20th and 19th most important Packers of 2013 at ESPNMilwaukee.com. I don't doubt that Ross has the potential to help the Packers, but ranking him in the top 20 is awfully high for someone who's not even a lock to make the team.

The NFL made official the six players eligible for Thursday's supplemental draft. "Unlike the televised April draft, the supplemental is carried out via e-mail among teams," writes Rob Rang of CBS.com. "The teams, slotted into three groups based on their won/loss percentage the previous year, contact the league with a list of the players they would draft and the round in which they would take them. Any team that uses a supplemental draft pick would then lose the corresponding selection in the next year's draft. Should a player not be drafted he is free to sign with any team following the conclusion of the draft." Considering the connection between the Packers and cornerback Damond Smith, it's worth keeping an eye on Thursday's draft.

More on the supplemental draft comes from ProFootballTalk.com.

Features on center Evan Dietrich-Smith and rookie defensive lineman Gilbert Pena were published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette over the weekend.

AllGreenBayPackers.com asks when cornerback Davon House will crack the starting lineup.

Projections for second-year cornerback Casey Hayward are published at Acme Packing Company.

Part 5 of the countdown of the best Packers is up at Packer Report, as is an article on receiver Randall Cobb.

Video: Lance Easley talks about his call from last year's Packers-Seahawks game with the local Fox affiliate in Seattle...

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (28)

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alfredomartinez's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:43 am

that guy is a prick, met him here in fresno last year, the day after the call...he wouldnt shut up about it, asking me "i hope i didnt ruin your day" and to my surprise it wasnt the packer fans that were taunting him and ultimately got him kicked out of the bar...lol

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bomdad's picture

July 08, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Lance Easley must be on summer vacation. No class.

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jrunde10's picture

July 08, 2013 at 12:38 pm

I agree on Ross, even if you consider him the 4th WR and the first team return man. Just not a lock.

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hayward4president's picture

July 08, 2013 at 02:48 pm

Ross has potential. I hope he is our returner this year. Keep Cobb off returns unless we really need a spark. This Ross kid is big .....its amazing he is so fast.

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Cow42's picture

July 08, 2013 at 04:53 pm

My initial reaction when watching the game against Seattle was that it was a touchdown. Both had their hands on the ball. I wonder if non Packer fans are as sure it was a pick as Packer fans are.

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Breadman's picture

July 08, 2013 at 08:53 pm

I live in California and haven't heard anyone agree with the TD call, everyone said GB got screwed. I guess you and Mr. Easley are easily confused

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Evan's picture

July 08, 2013 at 10:20 pm

You have got to be kidding me. The only people who think it was a TD are delusional Seahawks fans and blind Packer haters.

http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/md-jennings-golde...

It couldn't be any clearer.

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Stroh's picture

July 08, 2013 at 10:37 pm

He's just trolling for an argument. Don't bother... Yeah, I know I'm sayin it. LOL at myself!

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cow42's picture

July 09, 2013 at 05:15 am

that picture is taken after both players have already landed, fallen to the ground, and rolled.

go watch the video.

-both players go up.
-both players have possession (while in the air).
-Tate's feet are the first to touch the ground (while he still has 2 hands on the ball (touchdown).
-both players fall to the ground (and tate's hands never come off the ball).
-Jennings rolls and takes the ball away (your picture) after both players have been lying on the ground.

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Evan's picture

July 09, 2013 at 07:23 am

Pure idiocy.

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Stroh's picture

July 09, 2013 at 11:37 am

Dude Seriously?! Jennings has the ball to his chest w/ both hands before Tate even gets his hands on it! Your DE LUSION AL!

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SpartaChris's picture

July 08, 2013 at 10:57 pm

Dude, just STFU already. Tired of your nonsense.

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Mojo's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:13 pm

I remember posting about this play the day after it happened and why the refs blew it. A lot of the confusion revolves around what constitutes a simultaneous catch. Both players must initially have possession of the ball at exact same time. That never happened( and rarely does).

I read a number of what I assume are unbiased NFL refs either
retired or active say pretty much what former NFL official and officiating supervisor Jim Daopoulos
states below,in part, about why the replacement refs blew the call:

"The inability to recognize the difference between simultaneous possession and one receiver trying to steal the ball from a defender. The ball hit Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings first, and he appeared on the replays to pull the ball in and secure it. "It was pinned to my chest the whole time, even when we were on the pile,'' Jennings said afterward. "[Tate] was fighting for it. He was trying to get the ball out.'' The most telling part of the replay, if you watch closely, is that Tate's right arm, as the pile of bodies fall to the turf, flails out for a moment when Jennings has the ball, and then Tate puts his arm back in the scrum. Easley should have been able to see that.

It's hard to watch any replay and rule Tate had simultaneous possession with Jennings, but the pool report after the game with referee Elliott said that was his ruling -- simultaneous possession. And in that case, the ball is awarded to the offensive player. "But look at the play,'' said Daopoulos. "Simultaneous possession is two men catching the ball at the same time. Tate sticking his [left] hand in there is not enough for simultaneous possession."

There was a time when they were falling to the ground Tate had neither hand on the ball, while Jennings had both all the way down.

Not only that, but the replay booth could have reviewed the play contrary to those who reported otherwise.

I know I'm a homer, but if this play happened against Minnesota or Chicago, I'm certain I would have seen it the same way. The replacement refs blew it.

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Breadman's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Easley is guilty of insanity. Beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Point Packer's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:44 pm

Cow - You really are the hugest deuche in the history of deuche.

You really are.

Love,
Point Packer

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Fish/Crane's picture

July 09, 2013 at 04:38 am

He must have been laughing his ass off as he wrote that post, knowing some of you would bite.
wanna know...ask the stroh

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cow42's picture

July 09, 2013 at 05:19 am

wasn't the call upheld (on review) by NON-REPLACEMENT officials?

all i'm saying is that that call could have gone either way. it was not nearly as clear of an interception as people think (want).

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redlights's picture

July 08, 2013 at 05:10 pm

Half the reason the replacement officials were even used was because the regular ref's didn't like being ripped for their bad calls. After the replacement refs had a chance to do their thing, not many people complain anymore. Not that the regular ref's were improved; fans just sick of the replacements. IMO.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

July 08, 2013 at 05:12 pm

And if anybody wasn't sure ^you^ were a moron, well... THERE'S. YOUR. DAGGER.

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alan's picture

July 08, 2013 at 06:35 pm

I feel when jennings landed on the ground the ball was in his chest, his back was on tate, and tates 1 arm(not 2) was wrapped around jennings from behind him ( not on the side) which would have better indicated simultaneous possession giving control to the receiver. It wasn't until they were on the ground that tate repositioned himself to jennings' side. All that added with some logic ( not sure what the rule is but rules be damned) it was an int. Just my biased packer fan opinion I guess.

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Evan's picture

July 08, 2013 at 10:13 pm

You feel that because it's what happened.

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hayward4president's picture

July 08, 2013 at 07:51 pm

Cow ....I am the only packer fan out of all my friends . They all believe it was a pic as well.

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Lucky953's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:09 pm

Could somebody please leave a flaming paper bag of dog turds on Lance's doorstep?

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GBPDAN's picture

July 08, 2013 at 11:11 pm

Dear Lance Easley, please do us all a favor and jump in front of a city bus! Thank you

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alan's picture

July 09, 2013 at 12:07 am

And furthermore, to people who tell us packer fans to get over it and move on with our lives, I say this: 1) we have gotten over the result of the play and realize its just a game and far more important things exist and/but 2) we will not get over the fact that some people (few but some) still believe the correct call was made (probably out of spite towards the packers or possibly just from pure stupidity) and the truth is worth fighting over

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cow42's picture

July 09, 2013 at 05:22 am

losing that game was a blessing.

it would have been even worse to take that playoff pounding from the 49ers IN LAMBEAU.

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Point Packer's picture

July 09, 2013 at 06:28 pm

Seriously, buy a 49'ers hat and go cuddle with Jim Harbough.

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cow42's picture

July 09, 2013 at 09:09 pm

did you even watch the game?
wouldn't have been a contest no matter where it was played.

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