NFL referee Alex Moore addressed the CeeDee Lamb sideline interference penalty following a massive hit between an official and Lamb. Lamb was in street clothes on the sideline watching the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams, but was in a restricted area.
What followed was Lamb watching the action and not noticing the official running down the sideline. The referee collided with Lamb, causing one of the bigger collisions of the night.
There was no grey area with this call. It was an automatic foul, as detailed in the pool report after the game.
“It’s a sideline interference,” Moore said. “CeeDee Lamb was standing in the restricted white border area, which is our area to officiate the game. The official on the play was focused solely on doing his job and he ran into CeeDee Lamb, who was standing in that restricted area. That’s what happened. And with that contact, it’s an automatic foul.”
It was something that rarely happens, according to Moore. Lamb seemed completely unaware what was happening to the side of him in the moment.
“It’s more of a rare situation,” Moore said. “Normally we don’t have anybody standing that deep into the restricted area, or that type of forceful contact. So, it is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.”
Moore clarified, when asked, that the Cowboys were aware of the rule as the call was made and everyone was on the same page. Basically, there was no argument.
“Absolutely,” Moore said. “It’s something that everybody is aware of, that white area is our area to work safely.”
Nonetheless, Lamb and crew will turn the page after a 31-21 preseason loss. But, like others, Lamb certainly wants Dallas to pay defensive star Micah Parsons as he holds-in due to his trade request and lack of a new deal.
“I feel like he’s gonna be here,” Lamb said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Reaction was crazy. A little disappointed (in the process). But it is what it is. You gotta do what you gotta do and he’s gotta do what’s best for him and his family.”
