It’s never a good sign for NFL officials if Gene Steratore is disagreeing with your call.
The former referee turned CBS analyst was quite befuddled by a call during Sunday’s Philadelphia Eagles versus Jacksonville Jaguars game. The Eagles were handling the Jaguars well until Jacksonville returned a Saquon Barkley fumble in the third quarter for a touchdown to make it a 22-16 game.
However, Steratore — and the rest of the internet — argued that Barkley should have been ruled down by contact before the fumble, as a Jaguars’ defender clipped the running back’s legs, with the ball only popping out as he hit the ground.
Our @GeneSteratore gives his analysis on the Saquon Barkley fumble. pic.twitter.com/Jy5Kos0cIo
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 3, 2024
Even after it was reviewed, the officials confirmed the play was a fumble, confusing everyone and mystifying Steratore on CBS’s broadcast. And the evidence is pretty clear, as Barkley’s ankle got touched, causing him to fall before losing the ball after hitting the ground.
Not a great look for the stripes here.
