NFL Fires Ref Midseason for First Time in Super Bowl History
The National Football League is making some serious changes, and some say this is actually a progress. The NFL decided to fire referee and down judge Hugo Cruz. This is the first time a referee is fired midseason in the Super Bowl history. He made a huge mistake earlier this year, and the league could not ignore that.
The league fired down judge Cruz who missed the clear false start on Chargers OT Russell Okung in Week 6. Many were actually surprised that the NFL fired an official in the middle of the regular season.
Browns coach Hue Jackson said that an official told him the call was missed, but it was not something that could have been changed. “Yep. Yep. Missed it. Yeah, I was told they missed it. Was very honest on my side. It sure wasn’t the guy on the other side. It was definitely the guy on my side. That was ,” Jackson said.
The NFL has fired down judge Hugo Cruz, who missed a clear false start on #Chargers OT Russell Okung in Week 6, per @footballzebras. This is the first time in the Super Bowl era that the NFL has fired an official in the middle of the regular season.pic.twitter.com/cmLpOD7BKC
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) October 25, 2018
Some are worried that this was not the only thing Cruz messed up to warrant his firing. However, nothing beats the fact that he missed the clear false start in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung. This was actually the straw that broke the camel’s back.
NFL fires down judge Hugo Cruz https://t.co/0bWDhdS3OM via @footballzebras
— Keith Thomas (@ktjazz14) October 25, 2018
Hugo Cruz joined the league in 2015, but his poor performance was something you cannot ignore. Players and coaches hold officials accountable for the decision making process and mistakes are never accepted. Terminating a guy in the middle of a regular season is the only solution when someone messes up. Of course, it is not a common practice, but it sure happens.
Will something like this ever change? Let’s hope not. The NFL does not need all these scandals and firings. It is time for some real football. Game on! And no mistakes, please!