Panthers’ Smith trashes ‘garbage’ official who doesn’t cover wide receivers

U Dan Ferrell blamed for calls outside his keys

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has a complaint about a specific official he would like everyone to know about. As Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported:

I was told by the referee — whatever judge he was — number 64 … 

This would be Dan Ferrell, the umpire. He is generally working around and between the hashmarks.

He told me on my route [Cardinals safety Patrick Peterson] grabbed my jersey, [that] he saw it, but he didn’t think it was enough that changed the course of the route.

Obviously we are pointing a finger at the wrong guy. The umpire’s duties are mainly centered around the offensive and defensive lineman. Need a little more to figure out who the whatever judge is.

When I dove for the first down, he was standing right there, he didn’t even acknowledge — he received a check that day and I hope he feels good. He was terrible. He was garbage.

Person says this was on a spot that was marked short of the first down. After a challenge by coach Ron Rivera, the Panthers got the first down.

So this appears more likely to be the head linesman, number seventy-four, Derrick Bowers. (Also, back judge Perry Paganelli wears 46.) Although pass interference is generally a deep official (side judge, back judge, or field judge), the head linesman does assist on these calls, particularly on short passes. Smith continues:

It was pass interference in Mexico, Europe, rugby — in pretty much every other sport but in Arizona yesterday … But then when I pushed off it was pass interference.

I will give Smith credit for not singling out the referee for scorn, but actually tried to identify the correct official. From the published comments, I see nothing worthy of a fine until Smith gets to “he was terrible; he was garbage.” For that, Smith will likely draw a fine, but Smith isn’t worried:

To be honest, I make enough money where if [commissioner Roger Goodell] wants to fine me he can. But I really think that referee probably was the sorriest referee that I have ever met.

John Parry was the crew chief.