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Local NFL replacement official Easley to appear on Today Show on Tuesday
Posted: Oct 8, 2012 8:40 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Oct 8, 2012 8:40 PM
Lance Easley will sit down with Matt Lauer on the Today Show on Tuesday morning in his first on-camera interview since his infamous call on Monday Night Football two weeks ago.
The Santa Maria man worked the first three weeks of the regular season as an NFL replacement official. He entered the national spotlight on September 29 during the final play of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers when Russell Wilson threw a disputed 24 yard touchdown to Golden Tate in Seattle's 14-12 win. Tate shoved Green Bay's Sam Shields out of the way, then wrestled with M.D. Jennings for possession. Easley was the side judge and was one of the two officials, who ran toward the pile of players in the endzone. Easley glanced at the back line judge and ruled it a touchdown because of simultaneous possession, which a NFL rule states is a catch, not an interception .
After a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott came out from under the hood and announced "the ruling on the field stands" and CenturyLink Field erupted in celebration.
The NFL came out the following day and upheld the call. It did mention the refs missed an offensive pass interference call, but that was not reviewable.
Easley continues to maintain he made the right decision in what was his final moment working as an NFL official.
Easley, who is a full-time bank executive, refs junior college and high school sporting events on the Central Coast. Easley also is the President of the Los Padres Basketball Officials Association.
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