Jim Rome is not the only person who can burn on issues. I’ve tried to get a couple of plays and situations out of my mind this week, but I can’t. Let me set the tone:

I really hate when the men in stripes decide games. Case in point...my son’s football team was in an overtime situation. If my son’s team stops the other team from scoring a touchdown, they win. Simple. Well, it’s 4th down and goal-to-go for the opponent. The opponent allegedly scores a touchdown...when the football is actually seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. Are you kidding me? Of course all parents and players from my son’s team were furiously yelling and pointing out to the officials that the ball couldn’t have crossed the goal, to no avail. This was one of the worst calls ever, except for when the ref today inadvertently blew the whistle as a member from my son’s team was heading toward the end zone for a sure Pick-6. Do you know what the ref said? He said he thought the player was going to drop the ball so he blew the whistle. It’s really sad when you cheat a bunch of kids. Anyway, I digress.

Here’s another situation when the refs determined a game’s outcome and created a firestorm of outrage - Calvin Johnson’s non-touchdown. I know what the NFL rule states and I also understand that the official interpreted the rule “correctly.” But, where is the common sense? Johnson had control of the ball the whole way down to the ground, rolled over, and used the ball to help him rise to his feet. And for that, you nullify a touchdown? This rule must be changed by the NFL Competition Committee immediately, just as the position of the umpire on the field was changed as soon as Peyton Manning complained. The Competition Committee must also give the officials the leeway of using common sense. This terrible call reminds me of the “Tuck Rule,” but don’t get me started. Johnson and Lions were surely robbed of their first win of the season.

Another burn was Reggie Bush returning his Heisman Trophy to the Heisman Trust without receiving an official request to do so. My take is that Bush was the best college football player in 2005, hands down. If I understand the criteria for becoming a Heisman Trophy winner correctly, voters select the best player in college football that year, period. To my knowledge, there are no rules where alleged infractions by the potential winner’s family plays a role in who is selected. Bush made a preemptive strike, but, he should not have been placed in this position by his family or the Heisman Trust.

Finally, I have to say a few words about the Cowboys-Redskins game. Let me start by saying that Dallas absolutely, positively beat themselves. I’ll count the ways. #1...Jason Garrett decided not to take a knee with four seconds remaining in the half, deep in Cowboys territory. That lovely decision ended up costing the Cowboys 7 points as DeAngelo Hall strips Tashard Choice and runs in for a touchdown. And Garrett gets paid a few million a year for those types of calls. Pitiful. #2...Alex Barron’s open-field chokehold on Brian Orakpo that deprived the Cowboys of the winning touchdown. Barron’s game-ending infraction was really bad because he was penalized for the same type of play earlier in the game. Do we not learn from our mistakes? What really kills me is that Dallas released Flozell Adams, the League’s second-most penalized player the past five years and traded for the League’s most penalized player over the same time period. How stupid is that? When I saw that graphic, I almost fell out of my chair. Wow. Anyway, these two plays weren’t the only plays which sent Dallas to an 0-1 record, but, they really ticked me off. Dallas really needs to play better and have better coaching than what was displayed Sunday night if they expect to make the playoffs. Not even talking about the Super Bowl at this point.

I’m really hoping for a drama-free, yet exciting set of games on Sunday and Monday. I don’t want to burn on anything this week. I’ll certainly be tuned into NFL RedZone to get my game-watching on. Can’t wait for Week 2!