Paper measurement in Raiders-Cowboys game was ‘unusual,’ NFL official says

ALAMEDA, Calif. — All this over a piece of paper.

NFL referee Gene Steratore’s controversial decision to reaffirm a first down measurement by using a folded paper is still being discussed.

So much so that Alberto Riveron, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, addressed it during a conference call Thursday.

“When (Steratore) did bring out the piece of paper, that is very, very unusual,” Riveron said. “The last time I saw it done was about four or five years ago, and it was also in an NFL game. That’s not the norm. Gene made the decision strictly on visual affirmation that the ball had made the line to gain.”

The disputable paper measurement occurred in the fourth quarter of the Raiders’ 20-17 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

It was prompted after a quarterback sneak by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on a crucial fourth-and-one.

Steratore took out a sheet of paper and put it between the ball and the first-down pole. The veteran official determined that the paper confirmed his visual decision of granting Dallas a first down.

Dallas scored the game-winning field goal on the drive.

“(I) didn’t use the card to make the final decision,” Steratore said after the game. “The final decision was made visually. The card was used nothing more than a reaffirmation of what was visually done. My decision was visually done based on the look from the pole.”

Notables

— Cornerback David Amerson (foot), defensive lineman Denico Autry (hand/ankle), wide receiver Amari Cooper (ankle), guard/center Jon Feliciano (concussion), defensive tackle Treyvon Hester (ankle), center Rodney Hudson (ankle/illness), linebacker Bruce Irvin (concussion), defensive end Khalil Mack (not injury related), defensive back Keith McGill (knee/illness), tackle Donald Penn (foot) and tight end Clive Walford (concussion/neck) did not practice Thursday.

— Tight end Jared Cook (wrist), defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. (ankle) and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (hip) were limited participants in practice.

Contact reporter Chris Booker at cbooker@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Bookerc94 on Twitter.