Here’s some small vindication for New Orleans Saints fans. The NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, Al Riveron, admitted that referees botched a call against the Saints per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The play in question was a roughing the passer penalty on rookie defensive end Marcus Davenport, who dropped Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a heartbeat after throwing the ball away.
The penalty in question happened in a brutal, two-play sequence where three of the four Saints defensive linemen on the field were flagged for different offenses. Defensive tackle David Onyemata was penalized for roughing the passer, gifting Tampa Bay 15 yards and moving the ball from midfield to the Saints’ 36-yard line.