NFL never blew the whistle on referee

Q: I’m trying to find out what has happened to National Football League crew chief Pete Morelli. He was suspended after the Steelers-Chargers game in October. Then he came back and refereed a Ravens game, but now I think he must be suspended again because I don’t see him anymore. Could you give me some info on him, please.

A: Peter Danie Morelli certainly has been embroiled in his share of play-calling controversies over the years, but this time I fear I must throw my penalty flag on you for unsportsmanlike factual confusion. Although his crew has been harshly criticized at least twice this season, it was one of the members of that crew who was suspended and not Morelli, who, at the moment, is prepping for his next game at New Orleans Monday night.

An NFL official since 1997, Morelli was indeed the crew chief at that Pittsburgh-San Diego game on Columbus Day, but it was side judge Rob Vernatchi who was ordered to sit out a game for not managing the clock properly in the waning minutes. During a kickoff that Pittsburgh did not return, Vernatchi failed to notice that 18 seconds had ticked off the clock for no reason. The Steelers managed to score a winning touchdown in the final 2:38, but because San Diego had 18 fewer seconds for a last-ditch drive afterward, the NFL hit Vernatchi with a rare punishment.

It wasn’t the only time Morelli’s crew was whistled for foul officiating this fall. Two weeks ago, the NFL took away the plum Sunday night assignment between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh from Morelli and gave him the afternoon matchup between Philadelphia and New England instead. The move came after Morelli’s crew was blasted by both sides after the 49ers-Cardinals game on Nov. 29, during which the officials called 20 penalties. During Arizona’s first series of the second half, San Francisco was nailed for five penalties, including four for pass interference. A roughing-the-passer call later aided the Cardinals’ winning drive, but even Arizona coach Bruce Arians couldn’t resist saying that the officials “can’t count to three.”

Those with long memories likely can cite several other instances when Morelli, who is president of St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, Calif., has grabbed the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In 2004, he reversed what had been ruled an interception by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu, which nearly helped Indianapolis come back to win its AFC divisional playoff game. In a regular season game in 2007, Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson’s 51-yard field goal try to tie the game was initially ruled no good, but Morelli again reversed the decision after further review with time expired. And just last January, Morelli was the referee in the NFC wild card game, which saw Morelli reverse a pass interference call against Dallas’ Anthony Hitchins without explanation. Some analysts said the call should have stood, but after the Lions were forced to punt, Dallas put together a touchdown drive to win the game.

Despite the heat, Morelli’s job as referee appears safe at the moment. If you search the net, you can find a picture of the 64-year-old official with his crew at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City before the Chiefs’ game with the Chargers last Sunday. And if you want to see where Morelli or any other crew will be during any given week, you can always go to www.football-refs.com/2015-crews, where you’ll also find lists of all active NFL and NCAA referees as well as a list of NFL referees by season.

Q: Do you know anything about a new style of telemarketing number? Just four numbers, no area code or prefix. First on my home phone, then right away on my cell. I didn't answer either.

A: Wise decision — it’s likely a scam that could cost you at least a few bucks if you fall for it.

The Federal Communications Commission requires all telemarketers to display a legitimate number that you can call back during regular business hours. But as you might imagine, that rule is often not worth the paper it’s printed on. Technology is readily available that allows ne’er-do-wells to display any number they like. They’ve grown so lazy that apparently they now figure why go to all the work to fake a 10-digit number when just three or four can still get around call-blocking filters.

Usually, it’s just a way to get you to answer the phone, but the Better Business Bureau once warned South Dakota residents that calling back the number might result in a $15 charge. The FCC asks you to file a complaint about these scammers at www.fcc.gov, but, personally, I seriously doubt it’s worth the trouble of filling out the long form. If you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message; if not, you will have saved yourself time and a rise in blood pressure.

Q: When the St. Louis Cardinals opened the new Busch Stadium in April 2006, I distinctly remember sitting in the bleachers and buying a 17-ounce bottle of beer. When I tell friends about this today, they look at me as if I’ve had one too many. Please help me verify this treasured memory.

A: Unfortunately, your friends may be right in thinking your memory is full of hops — and not from the commemorative bottle you so vividly recall.

I thought the quantity sounded unusual and so did David McKenzie, marketing communications manager at Anheuser-Busch InBev in New York. So he had company archivists look into your question, and they found no record of any 17-ounce container produced to help fans christen the new stadium on April 10, 2006, as they watched the Redbirds beat Milwaukee 6-4.

Today’s trivia

Who threw the first pitch of the first regular season game at Busch Stadium III?

Answer to Wednesday’s trivia: In 1880, Sitka mining engineer George Pilz offered to reward any local chief who could help him find gold. A few weeks later, Chief Cowee led Joe Juneau and Richard Harris to the Gastineau Channel, where, according to Harris, they found gold nuggets “as large as peas and beans.” On Oct. 18, 1880, Juneau and Harris marked out a 160-acre town site, where a mining camp soon appeared. Originally named Harrisburg, the miners met in 1881 and renamed it Juneau. Then, as the whaling and fur trade diminished, Alaska in 1906 moved its seat of government from Sitka to Juneau, preparing it to become the capital of the 49th state on Jan. 3, 1959.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:45 AM with the headline "NFL never blew the whistle on referee."