[Joe Bob]

The official blew the ball dead. No new fumble rule or any OTHER rule change will fix that. An inadvertant whistle on a loose ball goes back to the team in last possesion of the ball. They can elect to have the result of the play, where they lost the ball or have a "Mulligan".....UNLESS there is a penalty...

We discussed the play tonight at my refs meeting. They guy admitted that he blew it, was subsequently fined....another official claims...by the NFL. Not much you can do on it.

Now there CAN be an issue where a white hat can CLAIM there's an inadvertant whistle on a fumble.....case in point. An umpire observes a high snap over the QBs head in shot gun formation. While moving up to the line of scrimmage he sees a quarterback with knees on the ground, one hand on top of the ball. The white hat is screened by lineman and is off to the side.

The umpire blows the ball dead, a defender jostles the ball loose....another defender then piles on.....umpire throws a flag. Asshat, whitehat rules that the ball was still loose, saddles the ump with an inadvertant whistle call......

Film backs up the Umpire.....

Ask me how pissed off I am......guess which official I am....