MIAMI - PITTSBURGH AND THE RED FLAG

I started off watching Oregon State at Boise State last night. At least one reason was because BSU home games are the ones my daughter will watch without complaint. For some reason, she really enjoys the Smurf Turf.

After it became apparent that BSU was going to win handily, I switched over to the Miami-Pittsburgh game, which was much closer. And then came that long catch and run play that scored a touchdown and put the Steelers up by four.

Did he or did he not step out of bounds before he went into the end zone? It was close. Looking at the replays, I couldn't tell if he did step on the line, or if his foot was in the air. It's so hard to tell on a 2-dimensional screen.

But apparently the Dolphin staff thought he did and that the play should be reviewed by the officials. Nick Saban, Dolphin head coach, tossed his red flag onto the field.

AHEM ... the side judge may have missed the guy stepping out of bounds, but my heavens!!! Have you ever seen such a wimpy flag toss in your life? If the coach wants the officials to see that red flag for a challenge, then get it up where they can see it! Tossing it underhand, no more than waist high, at the back of the referee (who is facing the other way because of the position of the kicker) doesn't cut it.

You could argue that either the linesman or line judge should have seen it since he would have been on the other side of the field looking towards the Dolphins' bench.

So yes, it wasn't an ideal situation and mistakes were made. But get that flag up in the air, man, where EVERYBODY can see it!!!