Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
"It was not Jerome Boger's intent to exchange a high-five with the player," a league spokesman told the Houston Chronicle. "As Vince Young took a knee on the game's final play, Jerome Boger jogged in with his right arm in the air to signify the play was over. That is the proper administrative signal for the referee."As Young turned around, he saw Boger approaching the line of scrimmage with his arm raised. As Boger moved toward the line of scrimmage, he started to bring his arm down. However, before he lowered his arm, Young, moving towards the referee, raised his own arm and the two exchanged what appeared to be a quick high-five."
Seems like a goofy move by a guy who was thrilled to have kept his winning streak going. No great shakes, right? But the NFL, like any professional sports league, is eager to quash any appearance of collusion between players and officials, even when suggested in an obviously joking manner. Chad Ochocinco was slapped with a $20,000 fine for pulling out dollar bills on the field to make it seem like he was bribing a referee. While it's unlikely there will be any fine for Vince Young, the league had to make certain appearances weren't compromised.
Not sure why celebratory incidents with the refs only seem to happen at Titans games. During last year's playoffs, then-Ravens defensive back Corey Ivy hugged a referee after Baltimore defeated Tennessee to advance to the AFC Championship. Officiating crews working Titans games will just have to expect this kind of thing.
(H/T to Deadspin for the image)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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lets pick our battles please. really?
by erson83 on Nov 25, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions
Ever hear of spontaneous enthusiasm? Vince Young would have high-fived Sasquatch if he was right there with his hand in the air.
by rbdonovan on Nov 25, 2009 3:40 PM EST reply actions
Knee-jerk alarmists, huh? Heard the latest from the NBA and ‘the Sheep’?
Great journalism, btw.
by Radatz on Nov 25, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions
manning, brady, and roethlisburger each pick a referee and a couple replay officials and put their children thru harvard each year.
by scurds on Nov 25, 2009 3:58 PM EST reply actions
@scurds: Got any evidence?
by tgatto.tsn on Nov 25, 2009 8:19 PM EST reply actions
tripping call against minnesota, roughing the passer against baltimore, recovery of fumble vs houston on the goaline with time expired. one each i could list hundreds.
by scurds on Nov 25, 2009 8:26 PM EST reply actions
This is harmless. Maybe that ref started Vince is his fantasy league?
by buckeyenut on Nov 25, 2009 8:27 PM EST reply actions
Funny, nobody was crying when Favre did the same thing a couple of years ago.
by 5150hog on Nov 25, 2009 8:42 PM EST reply actions
Could and would a player and an official come to such an agreement? Possibly! Would they show such and overt display of comeraderie on the field if they did? Not a chance as the proverbial snowball in hell!!
by snowhill on Nov 25, 2009 8:50 PM EST reply actions
When was the last time you went to shake a referees hand after the game and he denied to shake it? Vince was pumped about the win, and as rb donovan said, he would’ve high-fived sasquatch if he was there. It appeard more as if the ref just complied to humour vince.
by rugbysens on Nov 25, 2009 9:44 PM EST reply actions
Wow scurds, everything is a conspiracy with you, isn’t it?
So please, by all means, list the hundreds of instances in which refs showed favoritism towards Manning, Brady, and Big Ben. Please provide a video clip with each and every accusation to substantiate your claim, otherwise it’s just verbal diarrhea.
At the same time, you’ll also need to prove that every blown call in the NFL doesn’t have a hidden agenda behind it, justifying that Manning, Brady, and Ben are indeed getting special treatment, and are in fact financing upper level education for the children of said refs and replay officials.
by rbdonovan on Nov 26, 2009 1:30 AM EST reply actions
if tsn can make a story out of something as weak as that high five then i can make stories out of weak stuff too.
by scurds on Nov 26, 2009 11:16 AM EST reply actions
scurds, you would have some credibility if you didn’t do it constantly…your mindless drivel undermines any worthwhile comments you may have….but that’s the way you like to (t)roll.
by Tileking59 on Nov 26, 2009 3:57 PM EST reply actions
your in denial, your highness
by scurds on Nov 26, 2009 5:12 PM EST reply actions
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